EU leaders fully support European Commission's Digital Single Market Strategy

The European Council has fully backed the plans of the European Commission to create a Digital Single Market _  President Tusk: "Leaders are absolutely clear: we must build a genuine #DigitalSingleMarket in Europe." - Speech). 

Vice President Ansip has published a blog post and commented: "After many months of hard work to develop the strategy, this endorsement at the highest political level is very welcome. Now we can really start to move forward, to build a Digital Single Market for Europe.  The green light given by the EU's 28 countries also means that they should take some control and ownership of the various initiatives that we will present, once they are properly prepared. I sincerely hope that with our comprehensive work plan on the table, Member States now turn their 2013 and 2015 commitments to build the Digital Single Market into reality. We are now in the last full week of Latvia's six-month EU Presidency. I would like to thank my Latvian friends for all their hard work and efforts to promote what we want to achieve with the Digital Single Market strategy."

Extracts of the conclusions Digital technologies bring immense opportunities for innovation, growth and jobs. In order to benefit fully from this technological revolution, we need to tackle market fragmentation, ensure future-proof regulation, build supporting infrastructure, help the digitisation of industry, create conditions to facilitate growth in all sectors and protect our citizens.

The Digital Single Market should be used as a vehicle for inclusive growth in all regions within the EU. While emphasising the importance of all dimensions of the Commission's strategy and pursuing an ambitious reform of the telecommunications framework, including more effective spectrum coordination while respecting national competences, the European Council agreed that:

a) The Telecommunications Single Market Regulation, including roaming, and the Directive on Network and Information Security must be rapidly adopted; the Data Protection package must be adopted by the end of this year;

b) action must be taken on key components of the Commission communication, notably to:

Remove the remaining barriers to the free circulation of goods and services sold online and tackle unjustified discrimination on the grounds of geographic location;

guarantee the portability and facilitate cross-border access to online material protected by copyright, while ensuring a high level of protection of intellectual property rights and taking into account cultural diversity, and help creative industries to thrive in a digital context;

ensure effective investment instruments and improve the innovation climate, targeting in particular SMEs and start-ups;

identify and deliver rapidly on the key ICT standardization priorities;

ensure the free flow of data;

assess the role of on-line platforms and intermediaries;

improve digital skills, and;

encourage e-Government.

Progress in sight on the Telecoms Single Market package (roaming charges/net neutrality) and on the Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive. Trilogue talks will take place in the afternoon of 29 June (Telecoms Single Market) and in the evening (NIS). Check out the Twitter accounts of Vice-President Ansip and Commissioner Oettinger for comments and updates. Calendar of Vice-President Ansip - Calendar of Commissioner Oettinger 

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