Ireland is one of 15 Member States calling on European Commission Vice President, Andrus Ansip, to keep up high levels of ambition in the implementation of the Digital Single Market, mid-way through the five year strategy.
Ahead of the expected publication of the mid-term review next week digitally ambitious Member States have written to the Commissioner calling for a positive approach to digital disruption, in order to embrace the transformative potential of digitisation and to maintain and improve Europe’s competitiveness in the global digital economy, even when this requires a fundamental rethink of existing regulations.
Speaking in Lisbon, the Minister of State for European Affairs, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Dara Murphy, TD said:
“I am very happy that yet again a core group of EU Member States is pushing for a Digital Single Market that is ambitious and forward looking. As highlighted in the letter to President Tusk joined by sixteen Heads of State and Government in December, we will either create the right economic environment here in Europe or accept that the most promising digital opportunities are beyond our grasp.”
“However, meeting the 2018 deadline for the DSM legislation will require a further stepping up of engagements with key dossiers in both the Council and Parliament. We’re hoping to see good progress on these files in the months ahead. The reality is that barriers to doing business digitally and across borders are now barriers to growth and jobs.”
The June 2017 European Council meeting will take stock of progress under the DSM Strategy, informed by the mid-term review expected to be published by the Commission on 10 May 2017. This follows reinforcement by the December 2016 European Council of the goal of pressing ahead with full implementation by 2018, including the removal of obstacles hampering the free flow of data.
Minister Murphy was meeting Portuguese State Secretary for Industry, João Vasconcelos, as part of a broader programme of engagements on Brexit and the Future of Europe, in the Portuguese capital.
Note to Editors:
Background
Text of Joint Ministerial Letter on the DSM Mid-Term Review signed by 15 Member States (signed on behalf of Ireland by Minister of State for European Affairs, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Dara Murphy TD, and Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten TD).
The Taoiseach’s letter to President Tusk, signed by 15 other leaders, ahead of the December 2016 European Council: http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/Releases/Digital_Single_Market_a_major_opportunity_to_boost_the_dynamism_and_competitiveness_of_the_European_economy_%E2%80%93_Taoiseach1.html
The Digital Single Market 2 Years On: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/2-years-on-dsm_en_0.pdf
Ireland is ranked 8th according the European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/desi
The Digital Single Market, launched by the European Commission, in May 2015, aims to make the EU’s single market freedoms (people, goods, services, capital) “go digital”. It consists of 22 legislative proposals to support the strategy’s three key pillars: simplifying access for consumers and business; shaping the environment for digital networks and services to flourish; and maximising the growth potential of the digital economy.
For further information, see: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/digital-single-market_en
To date, agreement has been reached on three of the files; the Wholesale Roaming (which facilitates the abolition of roaming charges from 15 June this year), Decision on the Use of 700MHz Frequency (paving the way for roll out of 5G) and Portability of Online Content (which will allow EU citizens to avail of digital subscriptions (e.g. Netflix) while on holiday. Negotiations between Parliament and Council will shortly begin on WifiEU (providing grants for EU funded free wifi in public spaces) and the Geo-blocking Regulation (removing unjustified blocks to customers and businesses accessing websites in other EU Member States).