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Initiative on free flow of data is a key building block for a Europe without digital borders

The Minister of State for European Affairs, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Dara Murphy TD, has welcomed the publication today by European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip of the mid-term review of the EU Digital Single Market Strategy – the Commission’s flagship political initiative to apply EU single market freedoms to Europe’s 21st century digital environment. Commenting on today’s review, the Minister stated:
“The European Commission has rightly identified the transformation of digital opportunities into a better society as the new frontier for the EU project. Building the EU’s Digital Single Market is one of the great opportunities for Europe at this time. It is about the EU and its Member States collectively embracing the transformative potential of digitisation for our society and economy, and maintaining and improving our competitiveness in a global context.
“The mid-term review published today is a comprehensive and very welcome stock-taking exercise, which sets out the progress we have achieved since the strategy was first adopted in 2015, while also clearly identifying areas where further action and progress are required. In particular, I welcome today’s commitment by the Commission to present a legislative proposal later this year on the free flow of data within the EU - an important building block for a Europe without digital borders.
In advance of the publication of today’s mid-term review, Ireland, together with a group of digitally-ambitious Member States, wrote to the Commission last week calling for a positive approach to digital disruption and for a forward-looking, ambitious Digital Single Market. Minister Murphy added:
“A core group of EU Member States, including Ireland, are pushing for a Digital Single Market that is forward looking and ambitious. Vice President Ansip and the Commission are to be commended for driving a vision for the Digital Single Market and coming forward with good solid proposals to make it a reality. However, if we are to achieve our stated collective goal of agreeing all measures to underpin the Digital Single Market by 2018, we really need to see good progress in both the Council and the European Parliament on key proposals in the months ahead. This is a collective endeavour that requires a concerted collective push by the institutions and the Member States.”

Note to Editors
The Joint Ministerial Letter of 2 May on the Digital Single Market Review was signed by 16 Member States. The letter was signed on behalf of Ireland by the Minister of State for European Affairs, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Dara Murphy TD, and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD.