The proposed Digital Single Market strategy is needed to build trust in the online world, boost growth and protect the rights of citizens, creators and companies. These were among the first reactions from the chairs of the three committees that will work intensively on today's Commission proposal. This afternoon and tomorrow morning, the Commissioners responsible will visit Parliament to discuss the proposal with MEPs.
Jerzy Buzek (EPP, PL), chair of Parliament's Industry Committee, commented:
"First of all, for Europe to regain its status as world leader in ICT, the rules applying to the telecoms sector need to be updated. The right conditions will also have to be set for European industry to make full use of digital technologies and to successfully manage the transition to Industry 4.0. And finally, trust in the online world is crucial for further development of new services, which means that cybersecurity also has to remain a priority. In the Industry Committee, we are ready to put our experience and expertise to good use in our work on the digital single market strategy, to help citizens and businesses get the most out of the digital revolution".
Vicky Ford (ECR, UK), chair of the Internal Market Committee, added:
"The Commission is right to focus on breaking down barriers and removing unnecessary red tape. However, there is much more that entrepreneurs, businesses and consumers have suggested we could do to make trade easier and I would like to see many more suggestions from end users taken up in this area." "The Commission must take care to ensure that any new laws are well designed and details are properly considered. Old-style ‘one size fits all’ legislation or heavy-handed EU bans would hit investor confidence and risk setting back the progress that has been made in many member states and in many parts of the digital sector in Europe".
Pavel Svoboda (EPP, CZ), chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, said:
"I think it is clear that there is a need to update copyright rules in order to make them compatible with the digital environment of the 21st century. We've already discussed some specific issues in the field of intellectual property rights context within the Committee on Legal affairs and I believe it is our task in the European Parliament to make sure that in the end we have a balanced update which will accommodate legitimate expectations both right holders and consumers."
Ansip and Oettinger meet MEPs today and tomorrow
To get a first input from Parliament, Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip will discuss the proposal with members of the Industry Committee today at around17:00. Tomorrow morning at 09.00, Digital Economy and Society Commissioner Günther Oettinger will present and discuss the proposal in the Internal Market Committee.
Next steps
As a first step, Parliament will respond to today's proposal with an own-initiative report, drafted in cooperation by several parliamentary committees. Once the proposal has been analysed, it will be decided which committee or committees will lead this work.