E.U. Outlines Plans to Create Digital Single Market

BRUSSELS: The European Commission has unveiled its detailed plans to create a Digital Single Market, which would effectively put in place a unified regulatory framework for the internet across the 28 E.U. member states.

The Digital Single Market Strategy is built on three pillars: better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across Europe; creating the right conditions and a level playing field for digital networks and innovative services to flourish; and maximizing the growth potential of the digital economy. The aim is to "tear down regulatory walls" and move from 28 national markets to a single one. A fully functional Digital Single Market could contribute 415 billion euros ($470 billion) per year to the E.U.'s economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, the European Commission said.

Among the conditions that the commission is proposing are a modern, more European copyright law; a review of the Satellite and Cable Directive to assess if its scope needs to be enlarged to broadcasters' online transmissions and to explore how to boost cross-border access to broadcasters' services in Europe; and a review of the audiovisual media framework, focusing on the roles of the different market players in the promotion of European works (TV broadcasters, on-demand audiovisual service providers, etc.).

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said: "Today, we lay the groundwork for Europe’s digital future. I want to see pan-continental telecoms networks, digital services that cross borders and a wave of innovative European start-ups. I want to see every consumer getting the best deals and every business accessing the widest market—wherever they are in Europe. Exactly a year ago, I promised to make a fully Digital Single Market one of my top priorities. Today, we are making good on that promise. The 16 steps of our Digital Single Market Strategy will help make the Single Market fit for a digital age."

Andrus Ansip, VP for the Digital Single Market, said: "Our strategy is an ambitious and necessary program of initiatives that target areas where the E.U. can make a real difference. They prepare Europe to reap the benefits of a digital future. They will give people and companies the online freedoms to profit fully from Europe's huge internal market. The initiatives are inter-linked and reinforce each other. They must be delivered quickly to better help create jobs and growth. The strategy is our starting point, not the finishing line."

Günther H. Oettinger, commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, said: "Our economies and societies are going digital. Future prosperity will depend largely on how well we master this transition. Europe has strengths to build on, but also homework to do, in particular to make sure its industries adapt, and its citizens make full use of the potential of new digital services and goods. We have to prepare for a modern society and will table proposals balancing the interests of consumers and industry."