The EU's new digital single market strategy

A digital single market would enable consumers and businesses to benefit fully from the opportunities offered by the internet and digital technologies.

ACT

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - A digital single market strategy for Europe (COM(2015) 192 final of 6.5.2015)

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THE COMMUNICATION DO?

It sets out the strategy for a digital single market, one of the European Commission’s 10 policy priorities in its agenda for jobs, growth, fairness and democratic change.

KEY POINTS

The strategy sets out 16 targeted actions based on 3 pillars.

• 1.
  Better access for consumers to digital goods and services across Europe. Under this pillar the Commission will propose:

  • rules to make cross-border e-commerce easier;
  • a review of the Regulation on Consumer Protection Cooperation to enforce consumer rules more quickly and consistently;
  • more efficient and affordable cross-border parcel delivery;
  • to end unjustified geo-blocking* thus increasing choice and access for European online consumers;
  • to identify potential competition concerns affecting European e-commerce markets;
  • a modern, more European copyright law;
  • a review of the Satellite and Cable Directive to assess whether its scope should be broadened to include broadcasters’ online transmissions;
  • reduce the administrative burden to businesses caused by different VAT regimes.

• 2.
  Creating the right conditions and a level playing field for digital networks and innovative services to flourish. The Commission proposes:

  • an overhaul of EU telecoms rules;
  • to review the audiovisual media framework to make it fit for the 21st century;
  • analyse the role of online platforms such as search engines, social media etc., in the digital single market and assess how to tackle illegal content;
  • increase trust and security in digital services, particularly the handling of personal data. This will include a review of the e-Privacy Directive;
  • a partnership with industry on cybersecurity covering technologies and online network security.

• 3.
  Maximising the growth potential of the digital economy. The Commission will:

  • propose a ‘free flow of data initiative’ to promote the free movement of data in the EU as well as a ‘European cloud’ initiative;
  • define priorities for standards and interoperability of devices, applications, data repositories, services and networks which are critical to the digital single market;
  • support an inclusive digital society where citizens have the right skills to seize the opportunities of the internet and boost their chances of getting a job.

The Commission will complete these actions by the end of 2016.

For more information, see digital single market on the European Commission's website.

KEYWORDS

* Geo-blocking: where online customers are either denied access to a website based on their location or are re-routed to a local store with a different price.

RELATED ACT

Commission Staff Working Document - A digital single market strategy for Europe - Analysis and evidence accompanying the document communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - A digital single market strategy for Europe (SWD(2015) 100 final of 6.5.2015)

last update 17.08.2015