However, about three months later the first Digital Agenda communication was replaced by a corrected version in all languages. Hence the English communication comes with a warning, as do the other language versions:
CORRIGENDUM:
Annule et remplace le document COM(2010) 245 final du 19.5.2010
Concerne toutes les versions linguistiques
A Digital Agenda for Europe; Brussels, 26.8.2010 COM(2010) 245 final/2 (41 pages)
”A vibrant digital single market”
Persistent fragmentation is stifling Europe's competitiveness in the digital economy, and the EU is falling behind in markets such as media services, both in terms of what consumers can access and in terms of business models that can create jobs in Europe.
The Digital Agenda authors understand that the single market (officially still the internal market) needs a fundamental update to bring it into the internet era, but the communication promises nothing more, nothing less than ”A vibrant digital single market” for Europe, the first action area presented (from page 7).
The explanations regarding the reasons and the planned actions to progress towards the digital single market were bunched together under these group headings:
Opening up access to content (page 7-10)
Making online and cross border transactions straightforward (page 10-11)
Building digital confidence (page 11-13)
Reinforcing the single market for telecommunications services (page 13-14)
Digital Agenda themes
Besides the digital single market, the Table of contents of A Digital Agenda for Europe offers an overview of the other themes of the communication:
1. Introduction
2. The action areas of the Digital Agenda
2.1. A vibrant digital single market
2.2. Interoperability and standards
2.3. Trust and security
2.4. Fast and ultra fast internet access
2.5. Research and innovation
2.6. Enhancing digital literacy, skills and inclusion
2.7. ICT-enabled benefits for EU society
2.8. International aspects of the Digital Agenda
3. Implementation and governance
The Europe 2020 strategy, its Digital Agenda and the Single Market Act are of interest to the dynamic parts of European society.
Ralf Grahn
Posts
Tomorrow, Monday, 27th of February, will start in Copenhagen the Digital Single Market conference .
ReplyDeleteIt is a good opportunity to have a say in the future evolution of the DSM and the importance of learning in the transformation process that will be questioned during the conference’s two days.
Join the discussion
Many of us believe that “creating a Digital Single Market in the EU is not only a prerequisite for sustainable growth, but holds a promising prospect for economic growth and jobs in Europe.” Is it enough to believe? How can we transform our beliefs in facts that will support our convictions?
Digital Single Market vs Single Market?
In words of Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Economist at the European Policy Centre, “Creating a DSM can offer a structural solution to raise long-term growth and employment in the coming decade and provide a means of delivering the ambitions of Europe 2020”. In one of its latest report, the EPC estimate that “at least 4 percent additional GDP (EU27) can be gained in the longer run by stimulating further adoption of ICT and digital services through the creation of a DSM”. David Lidington in his blog writes: “The economic benefits accrued across the EU, once all these measures have been implemented will be significant. Consumers will have more choice, competition will increase and prices will fall. Businesses will have a larger consumer base to target, sell more and increase revenue.”
So what are you waiting for? Is it a problem of implementation which means that we should take for given the political willingness or is it a problem of European governance and alignment of policies?
In words of Jorgen Abild Andersen, Director General Telecoms, Danish Business Authority, one central question is: “how can we create a truly Digital Single Market modelled on the single market that celebrates its 20 year Anniversary in 2012?” Does it make sense to make a difference between the SM and the DSM? Shouldn’t it be a priority to change and enrich the definition of the SM to give a strong political signal to the European society?
If we try a definition inspired from the original one, “the Single Market would be an internal market characterized by the abolition, as between Member States, of physical and online obstacles to the free movement of goods, persons, services, capital, information and knowledge.”