Blog: Turning Europe digital, gathering views for the way forward - Hoofdinhoud

European Commissioners debate and agree the main priorities for building a Digital Single Market

Everybody in Europe should be able to make the most of the internet revolution, with nobody left behind in the digital age. This is my hope and vision for the future - and the purpose of our project to turn the EU's single market digital.

It was also the subject of a long and lively debate held earlier today by the 28-member College of European Commissioners, for whom the #DigitalSingleMarket is a top priority.

I asked my fellow Commissioners a short list of questions about our future digital plans, and heard a range of interesting opinions and views. Digital touches every aspect of our lives, after all, and that also applies to different EU policy areas.

It all provides valuable input that will help us to fine-tune our long-term digital vision paper that the Commission intends to present in May.

We are now agreed on the main priorities and how, in broad terms, to move forward over this Commission's five-year term in office so that we make the most of a huge potential - not only to create growth and jobs, but to make a real difference to people's lives as well.

On the details, we will continue discussing - they are still being worked on. In the meantime, we remain in 'listening mode' over the next few weeks to anyone who wants to give their views. For this, there is a dedicated website where you can post anything from simple comments and suggestions to blogs and research papers.

Our idea is not to produce a long shopping list, but a select group of initiatives that are designed to make a real difference for all Europeans - people as well as businesses - and move us closer to a functional Digital Single Market.

My questions to the Commissioners today were focused on three broad areas of action.

As a first priority, we agreed on the principle of needing to secure and guarantee free movement of goods and services in a digital space, and to improve online access generally. Much of this will be about developing the full potential of e-commerce by tackling restrictions.

We agreed that the following areas need definite action: enabling SMEs and consumers to sell or buy more online; the high costs of parcel delivery that frustrate businesses and consumers alike; regulatory barriers to a seamless single market such as heavy VAT procedures, and so on.

Included here is the headache of geo-blocking, where we need to stop people being blocked from a website based on their nationality, residence or location. We agreed that the logic of geo-blocking cannot over-ride that of the single market: they cannot co-exist. Then there are barriers relating to copyright and access to culture and digital content like music and film.

In the medium term, we will be looking to improve conditions for digital networks and services to underpin the Digital Single Market.

That means tackling regulatory fragmentation and providing stable rules to attract the investment needed for telecoms networks to stay cutting edge and provide high-speed internet access for everyone via top-quality infrastructure. It also means having the right regulatory environment - making the rules for EU's telecoms sector and media fit for the digital age, and making them fair so everybody can compete on equal terms.

And building a solid foundation for long-term growth so that Europe takes full advantage of the digital economy, where data is all-important - looking not only at data protection, but also at ownership, use and re-use of data, for example.

Areas of new growth like cloud computing, the Internet of Things; standards and interoperability are also important, especially in the context of promoting more e-government services around Europe and a more inclusive e-society where people have the skills needed to get new jobs, and to have trust when they go online.

Today, we reached agreement on the main building blocks for the DSM strategy. The details still need to be worked out. I have no illusions that the way ahead will be long and difficult.

I know there will opposition from some quarters. But I also know it will be worth the effort.

To be honest, every initiative we take as part of the Digital Single Market will be as difficult, tough and controversial as copyright. But we need to do this in order to make Europe's people, economy and internal market ready to seize the growth and jobs in a digital age.

This project is an opportunity for Europe's digital economy and society to grow. It will unlock the digital opportunities for business to compete and grow, and help to improve the quality of people's lives. A better online experience all round.

Another blog soon.

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