The European Commission has adopted 7 new priorities of the Digital Agenda for Europe that are to be the focus of activities in 2013 and 2014.
The Digital Agenda for Europe was adopted in 2010, as an integral part of the Europe 2020 strategy, to stimulate the digital economy and address societal challenges through ICT. The European Council and the European Parliament have since called for further strengthening of the European digital leadership and completion of the Digital Single Market by 2015.
European digital economy is growing at seven times the rate of the rest of the economy, says the Commission, but this potential is currently held back by a patchy pan-European policy framework.
The 7 newly adopted digital priorities place new emphasis on the most transformative elements of the original Digital Agenda.
The priorities, among other, include an EU cyber-security strategy and Directive, an update of the EU Copyright Framework to account for digital works, the launch of a “grand coalition” between the public and private sector to promote jobs in the digital sector, and the promotion of cloud computing through greater public sector buying power.
Also part of the 7 initiatives is a proposal for increasing broadband investment. It includes actions to improve transparency rules, reinforce open access, develop ultra-fast broadband networks, and take into account technological neutrality.
In addition the initiatives will see the fast track implementation of digital services – including eIDs, eSignatures and eProcurement – in the Connecting Europe Facility, a plan of promoting growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment across Europe.
Picture: European Commission
