— Posted by Jørgen Abild Andersen, Director General Telecom, Danish Business Authority.

After two days of inspiring speeches and lively debate in Copenhagen on 27-28 February 2012, Europe is one step closer to achieving a Digital Single Market. The high level conference “A Digital Single Market by 2015 – a driver for economic growth and jobs” was organised by the Danish Business Authority representing the Danish EU Presidency and in close cooperation with the European Commission. The conference attracted a total of 270 participants from both Europe and the US.

The conference was the latest event focusing on how we can create a truly Digital Single Market in Europe, following the informal competitiveness Council 2-3 February 2012, the European Council statements and a letter on a European growth plan by twelve European heads of state, all calling for a Digital Single Market sooner rather than later. Read the full entry

Number of views: 1153

 — Posted by Professor Luis Tavares, Technical University of Lisbon, session moderator at #dsm12.

The Danish Presidency of the European Union is hosting a High Level Conference on the Digital Single Market in Copenhagen, 27-28 February 2012. I am moderating a session, which will focus on how to create coherent e-procurement in Europe. Coherent e-procurement holds enormous potential for improving cross border commerce in Europe and for reducing expenses in the private and public sectors.

Twenty years after the landmark of the European Single Market there are strong evidences concerning several barriers reducing cross-border flows. These are particularly severe for public procurement (less than 5%) despite its economic importance (more than 17% of GDP). 

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Number of views: 1359

 — Pia Rybenfeldt, Chairman, DI ITEK, Danish ICT and Electronics Federation, session moderator #dsm12.

On February 27-28 more than 200 high level representatives from European Member States, institutions, business, civil society and academia will gather in Copenhagen, Denmark for a forward-looking dialogue on the political challenges of creating a fully-fledged European Digital Single Market.

The conference is titled “A Digital Single Market by 2015 – A driver for economic growth and jobs“ and will feature a number of sessions covering the different aspects of the digital single market.

One of the sessions – the one I am moderating – is called “Smart public services in the Digital Single Market – Seamless cross-border e-government”. It will deal with the numerous challenges and responsibilities facing the public sector in regards to fulfilling its purpose as a facilitator of services with the primary function of making life easier for the citizens of Europe.

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Number of views: 1871

— Lars-Henrik Myrmel-Johansen, Director General, Ministry of Government Administration, Norway, session moderator #dsm12.

The Danish Presidency of the European Union is hosting a High Level Conference on the Digital Single Market in Copenhagen, 27-28 February 2012. I am moderating a session, which will focus on how to turn online start-ups into global players and how to strengthening the environment for web entrepreneurs in Europe.

 Web entrepreneurs play an important role in boosting the digital economy. Web entrepreneurs will not only contribute with innovative content and services for you and me. They are essential to the actual creation of growth and jobs, which is on everybody’s minds these days. Read the full entry

Number of views: 3483

 — Posted by Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, World Intellectual Property Organization, Senior Economist (in personal capacity)

In the current environment, the search for new sprouts of growth preoccupies many of us. With the focus on austerity measures, the Euro and capital shortages, we have our heads in the macro-economy cloud; with some danger of getting lost in it…

At this juncture it is critical to remember what the important sources of growth really are. I mean innovation and entrepreneurship of course, in particular as they relate to new technologies and new jobs. I mean business and policy practices which avert the real risks to innovation-based growth in Europe. They matter. Let’s not treat them as residuals to (surely equally important and connected) macro-economy matters.

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Number of views: 3247

— Posted by Fabio Colasanti, session moderator and President, International Institute of Communications.

 On 27-28 February 2012 the Danish Presidency of the European Union is hosting a High Level Conference on the Digital Single Market in Copenhagen. One of the conference sessions, the one that I am moderating, will focus on how to improve that all important trust in the almost endless possibilities of the Internet – at the benefit of citizens and the public sector, consumers and business alike.

Everybody reading this blog will probably be used to buying products and services on-line, such as books and DVD’s ; airlines tickets; hotels, rental cars, and so on. Most of “us”, with an interest in Information and Communication Technologies, would consider this a normal occurrence and would miss it greatly if it ceased to exist. Read the full entry

Number of views: 3279

 — Posted by Jørgen Abild Andersen, Director General Telecoms, Danish Business Authority.

In these days of uncertainty, where everyone is worried about the economy and the future, constructive answers and solutions that can spark off economic growth and create new jobs in Europe are in great demand.

I see a digital way forward and out of the European crisis. I 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.

I am not alone in believing in the potential of a Digital Single Market. The European Heads of State have on several occasions stated that Europe must have a well-functioning Digital Single Market in place by 2015 in order to generate new economic growth. And last week in Copenhagen, a successful informal Competitiveness Council was held on the topic. Read the full entry

Number of views: 3049

 — Posted by Gerd Heinen, DG MARKT, Retail financial services and consumer policy unit

Carrying a virtual train ticket or repaying a friend with your mobile phone, buying your groceries online, paying with your debit card abroad – the way European citizens shop and pay is radically changing.  A secure and transparent integrated payments environment throughout the EU could create more efficient, modern and safer means of payments – for the benefits of consumers, merchants and payment providers. Therefore, an integrated market for electronic payments is an important building block of the Commission’s Digital Agenda, and the Digital Single Market in particular.

 Today, the Commission had adopted a Green Paper ‘Towards an integrated European market for card, internet and mobile payments’ which assesses the current landscape of card, internet and mobile payments in Europe. Read the full entry

Number of views: 1546

— Posted by Patricia Lamotte, DG MARKT, Unité des services en ligne

Le shopping de Noël est à présent terminé et la période des soldes vient à peine de commencer. Chaque année, lors de cette période intense pour le commerce, on remarque que de plus en plus d’Européens effectuent leurs achats en ligne.

Pourtant trop d’obstacles gênent encore les consommateurs et les entreprises désireux de profiter pleinement des opportunités offertes par l’internet. A titre d’exemples, les consommateurs n’ont pas toujours confiance en la sécurité de leurs transactions ou peuvent être frustrés que les moyens de paiement soient limités. Il est fréquent en effet que les cartes de paiement étrangères ne soient pas acceptées.  Par ailleurs, les offres manquent souvent de transparence et les paiements comme les livraisons sont souvent trop chers. Pour couronner le tout, on trouve encore trop de contenus et produits illégaux ou contrefaits et les consommateurs sont inquiets du respect de leurs droits, notamment lorsqu’un problème survient.

C’est pourquoi la Commission européenne a adopté aujourd’hui la “Communication sur le commerce électronique et les services en ligne” qui vise à doubler la part du commerce électronique dans les ventes de détail (aujourd’hui 3,4%) et de la filière Internet dans le PIB européen (aujourd’hui moins de 3%) d’ici à 2015. 

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Number of views: 579

Posted by Pearse O’Donohue, DG INFSO, Head of unit: Radio Spectrum Policy

This is one of the key questions that will be addressed in a workshop on “Promoting the shared use of radio spectrum resources in Europe” in Brussels on 16 December 2011. In the workshop, hosted by the European Commission, the results of a study on shared spectrum access carried out by SCF Associates Ltd, a consortium of independent consultants will be presented and discussed.

You can find more information on the workshop programme, the key topics to be addressed and how to register your participation here.  Please register before 1 December 2011. As the space is limited, you will receive a confirmation on the 2 December 2011.

However, already for the preparation the workshop, the study team and the Commission Services would be interested in your views: Read the full entry

Number of views: 1187