High-speed broadband access for all must be the heart of any Digital Single Market Strategy: this is the main message from EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions, in response to today's long awaited European Commission communication. "Nobody can argue with the objectives in the paper, but the crucial details will only be apparent in the forthcoming legislative proposals." Michael Schneider, President of the EPP Group in the CoR, said. "However, we must work quickly to ensure that markets deliver access to high-performance broadband in all the regions and cities of Europe. If we do not close the digital gap between urban and rural areas today, many businesses and citizens will be unable to profit from the undeniable opportunities that a Digital Single Market presents."
Given the different regulations in the 28 member states, EU border regions are amongst those who are particularly attuned to the opportunities offered by a fully-functioning digital single market. “Cross-border regions feature heavily in today's communication because digital knows no boundaries. Border regions like the Saarland, at the interface with France, Luxemburg and Belgium, have immediate experience with the limits for both citizens and businesses as a result of so many different commercial and consumer protection laws." CoR rapporteur, Helma Kuhn-Theis, began. "But, we are also well placed to immediately recognise the opportunities offered by a fully functioning EU-wide digital single market."
Citizens also need to be equipped with digital skills, if they want to take advantage of the opportunities within the digital market. For this reason, the EPP Group in the Committee of the Regions and the European Democrat Students are inviting young people to a conference on 21-22 September entitled "Digital Skills For All: Reaching Our Potential Together".