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DIGITALEUROPE

DIGITAL
EUROPE
Our Call to Action
towards 2025
02 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 03

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
A stronger DIGITAL EUROPE 06

Success indicators for 2025 16

1. A
 n inclusive and social Europe that promotes 20
participation and builds trust

Enhance digital development to drive social 20


inclusion
Create the jobs and skills of the future 22
Provide a digital environment that 25
enhances trust, privacy and security

2. A
 n innovative and sustainable Europe that
brings benefits to the society at large and 30
invests in future generations

Build a framework for a sustainable Europe 30
that leverages the potential of digital
technologies
Boost digital infrastructure to enhance 34
connectivity
Enhance innovation and the adoption 35
of emerging technologies (AI, IoT, etc.)
Accelerate the digital transformation for 37
the manufacturing sector

3. A
 strong and united Europe that reflects 40
European values and thrives globally in an
open economy

Build a strong European Union by 40


strengthening the Single Market without
regulatory fragmentation
Promote digital leadership in public sector 44
services across the EU
Push for fair global competition and boost 47
European competitiveness
04 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

FOREWORD
We need the European Union (EU) Value creation in the digital age is
more than ever! The new European borderless and global, and companies
political leadership taking office need scale to compete. Looking back at
this year stands in front of a great the developments of the last 10 years,
opportunity to reaffirm their primarily the companies that were global
commitment to the European project and digitised managed to adapt, grow,
and to bring Europe to the forefront of and prosper.
the emerging global digital era.
Let us look at the basics of a
Europe is a large powerful continent people-centric democracy. We need to
built on democratic values. The EU and build an inclusive society, where people
the freedoms of its Single Market have are empowered by and benefit from its
guaranteed peace, prosperity, and advancements.
stability for more than 60 years.
It is time to embrace the changes of
The last 10 years have brought digitalisation and globalisation with a
profound changes to the global clear vision and responsible leadership.
geopolitical situation, including in Leaders lose when falling into the trap
the areas of security, sustainability, of being defensive and defining what
value creation, and trade. Europe they do not want instead of what they
will flourish in the global digitalised do want. As leaders in politics as well as
economy only if it remains united and in business, we need to ask ourselves:
capitalises on the size of its common “What do we want and how do we get
market. Europe needs to understand there?”
that there are two types of countries
in Europe: countries that have realised Our aim is to drive a more ambitious and
they are small and others that have harmonised European market integration
not. That’s why companies need a for companies to grow and create value
single unfragmented European Market in a global digitalised economy.
to scale.
Companies can drive more sustainable
There is an urgent need for political growth through the use of digital
leadership breaking down national technologies. Sectors such as
silos and sustaining European values transportation, manufacturing, public
and prosperity in a global digitalised services, and healthcare will be totally
economy. transformed for the better.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 05

Digital has broken down old sectoral silos


and new ecosystems of cross-sectoral
collaboration are driving innovation and
value creation. As a result, digital policy
impacts all sectors.

Europe is often described as a global


champion of regulation, and it is true
that together we often managed to
positively drive global change. But we
must examine ways to make rules more
effective and outcome-oriented.

Technology alone is merely a tool – it is


up to our society to make sound use of it.
We need to think about how to nurture
European values, solidarity, cohesion, Together we will strive for a
and prosperity to leverage the great
European project into the digital age.
Europe where digital technologies,
innovation, and artificial intelligence
As decision-makers from the industry
and politics we have a pervasive impact
(AI) can provide Europe’s people
on people’s lives. It is our common with competitive jobs, better health,
responsibility, together with other
and better public services. A strong
stakeholders, such as unions to “level
up” the European society, so citizens and unfragmented DIGITAL EUROPE that
the market are ready for a sustainable, takes leadership in creating digital
prosperous, and STRONGER DIGITAL
EUROPE. This is DIGITALEUROPE’s call to Inclusion, green growth, innovation,
action. trust, agile mission-based policy
making that drives prosperity and
Markus Borchert creates benefits for the European
NOKIA - DIGITALEUROPE President
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
society and leads globally in an open
DIGITALEUROPE Director-General economy.
06 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

A Stronger
DIGITAL EUROPE
Europe can lead, but we Therefore, DIGITALEUROPE believes that
the next Digital Single Market programme
need to do so based on should be linked to clear mission-based
policies setting ambitious goals.
things that we excel at and
the values we believe in. Our DIGITAL EUROPE Vision 2025 is:

A Europe where digital technologies,


However, we also need to face the fact innovation, and artificial intelligence
that we still have a fragmented and can provide Europe’s people with
highly regulated European market. In competitive jobs, better health, and
an era where consolidation and global better public services.
scale are key to growth and competi-
tiveness, we must be careful that we do A strong unfragmented DIGITAL EUROPE
not end up with a Europe where only that takes leadership in creating digital
corporate giants can afford to grow due Inclusion, Green growth, Innovation,
to a fragmented European market. We Trust, Agile mission-based policy making
must also enhance fair opportunities for that drives prosperity and creates
European champions to emerge in a benefits for the European society and
global competitive environment where leads globally in an open economy.
scale is key to success.
For a sustainable, prosperous and
stronger DIGITAL EUROPE, we believe
that there are 7 key areas of impact that
should be addressed by all decision-
makers from the industry as well as
government leaders, and public sector
institutions: 
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 07

D
I
G
I
T
A
L

The future of Europe is DIGITAL.


08 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Digital Single Market


As the European motto says, “we are We would like to see the Digital Single
stronger together”. This is true more than Market relaunched with mission-based
ever; Europe needs cohesion and we policy making and with the goal to
need to consolidate the Single Market to achieve a strong competitive digital
make it fit for the 21st century, and to be eco-system of innovative companies
competitive in a global digital era. The fulfilling the DIGITAL EUROPE Vision 2025,
EU Digital Single Market strategy should and a fully harmonised Digital Single
be recognised for prioritising digital as Market.
the core of EU’s actions. In the next five
years, more efforts are needed to deliver Currently Europe has only 11% of global
opportunities in a harmonised European business unicorns – and 6% of these are
market. based in the UK1. We need to rapidly
implement a truly harmonised Digital
DIGITALEUROPE believes it is time to Single European market if we are to
strike a balance between risks and keep up with global competition allowing
opportunities. Unfortunately, the business to grow in a homogenous
debate around digital policy-making home market and Europe to create
has primarily focused on “protection,” and maintain a fair share of European
“risk”, and “disruption. It is time to take unicorns and champions.
an innovative, mission-based approach
and to focus on the benefits we wish to Digital knows no borders, and
achieve for the citizens of Europe. digitalised enterprises, whether they
include a physical product or not, are
by nature global. European Small and
Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are to
a high extent linked to the international
market either as sub-suppliers to the
big players, or with direct market access
By 2025, Europe should be home to 25% of the world's unicorns through global platforms and supply
% of total unicorns chains.
100%
11%
It is essential to cultivate harmonised
policies in the EU and strive for global
80%
harmonisation of rules. This prevents
trade barriers and simplifies compliance,
60% especially for start-ups. Let’s boost
growth and competitiveness.
40%

20%

0%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

1
CB Insights, The complete list of Unicorn Companies, 2018
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 09

Inclusion
Are Europeans empowered in the Young people should also have sound
digital age? Our DIGITAL EUROPE knowledge of privacy rules and cyber
Vision 2025 aims to empower European protection methods.
citizens through digital competency
and knowledge. We believe that only by Higher education should include
enabling society’s digital understanding technology innovation in every
and competence can we divert fear discipline.
of technological developments into
creativity. Our citizens must be not
only users, but creators of innovative % of workers in need of reskilling
technological design.

There are challenges ahead: upskilling


the manufacturing sector – 52% of the 52%
current European workforce needs Need reskilling
retraining before 20222. 47%
No reskilling
We need to urgently address the needed
digital skills shortage to drive growth
and secure prosperity for future
generations, but also to make sure
that people are empowered to voice Less than 1 month 1 to 3 month 3 to 6 month
their demands and to articulate over 1 year no reskilling needed
6 to 12 month
questions to their political leaders.
The question is not “what about job
losses?”. The question is “do we have
enough skilled Europeans that are Digital should enhance a non-biased
ready to fill all these new digital jobs?”. society, and technologies like Artificial
While long-range studies vary in their Intelligence give us the chance to fight
predictions, virtually all of them outline inequality by advanced transparent
a net positive outlook for jobs; from 1,8 data analysis. Inclusion must be the
new jobs per job disrupted3 all the way rule not the exception, and digital
to 3,74 . Let us make sure that the young services and products should promote
Europeans are ready for those jobs inclusion. Efforts such as the European
and that we make an extensive effort to Accessibility Act (aimed at improving
reskill the current workforce. the access to goods and services in
the lives of disabled or elderly people)
This enormous job potential means that and the Digital4Her declaration (which
we will have to reform the educational promises to get more women into the
system and the way we reskill people. technology sector) are a good start, but
All educational institutions should more is needed.
include key digital skills and integrate
computational thinking in their
curricula.

2,3
World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report, 2018
4
Agoria, Be the Change – Shaping the Future of Work, 2018
10 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

People have the right to participate in Today, one household in ten in rural
the digital society and to have access areas still does not have this basic
to digital services. We need to consider connectivity right. Would citizens
infrastructure and safe digital access as accept a Europe without highways?
a basic right. A grounded and pervasive
digital infrastructure will allow everyone, No, and neither should they accept
regardless of location, to reap the a Europe without an advanced and
benefits of the digital age. We believe secure digital infrastructure as the
that by 2025, every European household base of all digital access and services.
should have access to 4G5.

Green growth
With population growth and increased This transition is not only an opportunity
prosperity, demands for resources and for businesses and citizens, it is also
materials, energy, food, and water have a necessity from an environmental,
been rising. This does not only have an economic, and social perspective. It will
impact on our environment, it also presents contribute to moving towards a more
challenges to the finite amount of natural productive, higher added value and
resources, and therefore Europe’s ability sustainable economy, and not least there
to grow sustainably and compete globally. is the potential to create new, green jobs
To transform the European economy and for instance within the recycling industry.
generate new and sustainable competitive We believe there are opportunities for
advantages for Europe, the European the EU to further encourage the transition
Union started a transition process to move to a circular economy by creating a truly
towards a low-carbon, more resource- circular single market, where materials
efficient and circular economy. can flow freely, and which boosts
refurbishment, repair, reuse and recycling.

Digital technologies have an enormous


enabling potential. Concerning mobility,
they enable driverless and connected
cars as well as ride-sharing services that
contribute to reducing emissions from
transport; in the energy sector, digital
technologies improve the efficiency of
distribution grids and utility operations.

To truly grasp the benefits of this


transition, Europe should continue to
build a framework for a sustainable,
low-carbon, and resource-efficient
Europe that is fit for the fast-moving
innovations in our sector and leverages
the true potential of digital technologies as
key enablers for green growth.

5
Eurostat, Rural 4G mobile broadband coverage, 2017
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 11

Innovation
In order to position Europe as a global Europe needs a dedicated “unicorn
leader, access to capital and strategic strategy” to raise the share of unicorns
investments in innovation is crucial. In above the 11% witnessed in 2018 8 .
2016, private investment in AI in the EU In Nordic countries, arguably more
was between €2,7-3,6 billion, in China it successful than most, two thirds of
was €7-11 billion, and the US was leading unicorns leave Europe in the first two
with €14-21 billion – more than 5 times growth phases.
that of Europe’s.6

We therefore welcome the European Private investements in AI


Commission’s proposal for the “Digital
Europe Investment Programme”. This
programme will drive a long-needed North
America €14 - 21 bn
acceleration of digitalisation in the
European society. The Digital Europe
programme is a great cross-sectoral
initiative from the Commission with the €7 - 11 bn
Asia
target of adopting technology across all
sectors. However, the current funding is 5,5 x more
merely a drop in the ocean. It costs €9,2
billion to digitalise all sectors in Europe €2,7 - 3,6 bn
Europe
and to invest in digital infrastructure
and reskilling – the biggest challenge to
growth – is much too low. It is evident
compared to the support and subsidies
granted to declining sectors. We need to Europe needs a clear vision,
invest in the future, not the past. leadership, and capital to ensure that
next decade’s world-leading unicorns
Europe can only lead through investing come from Europe and are given the
in the European technology adoption right incentives to stay. Public-private
and the creation of innovative partnerships are just one aspect
eco-systems enhancing innovation in that should be fully explored.
crucial technologies like AI, Internet of We believe that by 2025, Europe
Things (IoT), 5G. We urge Members should have a minimum 25% of the
States to collaborate and prioritise world’s unicorns and world-leading
this and allocate a significantly digital cross-sectoral eco-systems
higher budget for the Digital Europe driving growth in key areas, such
programme. 5G, IoT and Cloud are as manufacturing, healthcare,
turning-point technologies that could transportation, and public services.
deliver socio-economic benefits worth
more than €110 billion and create 2,3
million new jobs in Europe. 7

6
McKinsey, Artificial intelligence: The next digital frontier?, 2016
7
 uropean Commission, Identification and quantification of key socio-economic data to support strategic planning for the introduction
E
of 5G in Europe, 2016
8
CB Insights, The complete list of Unicorn Companies, 2018
12 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Trust
Trust is fundamentally important as In the digital age, trust is closely linked
it is the glue that holds relationships to cybersecurity. Europe must act as one
together and is the basic prerequisite in the area of cybersecurity to ensure
for a well-functioning and participatory there are no weak links in the chain.
democracy. Efforts by governments and the industry
to strengthen cybersecurity are crucial
Europe has been built on trust. It is crucial to maintain and build European citizens’
to avoid erosion, and leaders should trust. As data does not stop at borders,
therefore take responsibility and take we need to collaborate also at a global
actions to build trust. level.

DIGITALEUROPE acknowledges that we,


The digital age brings numerous as decision-makers from the industry,
opportunities to boost trust by providing have a pervasive impact on people’s
more transparency and easier access lives. We also believe that, together with
to information and platforms. Building the policy-makers from the EU institutions
trust means that Europe must continue and national governments, it is our
to defend citizens’ accessibility, privacy, common responsibility to enhance trust
cybersecurity, consumer rights, and cement cohesion for the benefit of all
education, and workplace development. Europeans.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 13

Agile & mission-based


policy
In the coming decades, societies Europe is often described as a champion
will have to find solutions for global for regulation. But how can we renew
megatrends, such as population ageing our way of devising policies? Rather than
in advanced economies, urbanisation, creating new legislation by default, we
and sustainability. should think about innovative ways of
regulating. We should be scaling down
Digitalisation and globalisation have outdated rules that inhibit innovation
changed the society and the competitive and think about providing guidance
environment at a speed we have never to achieve the desired objectives. Let’s
experienced before. Long policy making consider regulatory sandboxes to
processes driven only by institutions are experiment in a controlled environment,
out-dated and not fit for the real world. under regulatory supervision. Let’s
Europe has a long tradition on multi- bring policy and innovation into real
stakeholder dialogue, and we should life and renew our methods based on
take this to the next level. our traditions, and build an innovative,
competitive, and stronger Europe.
Agile and mission-based policies can
provide solutions and approaches to
address societal challenges. At the same
time, they will promote innovation and
inclusive growth. A STRONGER DIGITAL
EUROPE should build on the following
missions:

 An inclusive and social DIGITAL


EUROPE that promotes participation
and builds trust

 An innovative and sustainable DIGITAL


EUROPE that brings benefits to the
society at large and invests in future
generations

 A strong and competitive DIGITAL


EUROPE that reflects European
values and thrives globally in an open
economy
14 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Leadership
Europe needs global leadership. Instead Competition is healthy. We cannot
of focusing on what they don’t want, accept that only one or two companies
leaders need to articulate what they do hold all the cards and stifle emerging
want, and how to get there. In Europe, we businesses. However, it’s not about
share common values, but we also need keeping international competitors out,
a common vision and common goals but ensuring European businesses can
across borders – as a leader, once you compete, and win, on a global scale.
become defensive, you have lost.
Europe’s strengths lie in manufacturing,
Innovative leadership recognises that the public sector, health, and
competition is global and that scale transport. We are ready to drive
matters. We need clear incentives to agile mission-based policy making to
encourage European companies to look strengthen the position of the digital
past their own borders and compete in and digitalising sectors in Europe and
a harmonised European Digital Single push to maintain an open global market
Market and beyond. economy.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 015

DIGITALEUROPE calls upon all leaders to strive for:

A Europe where digital technologies, innovation, and


artificial intelligence can provide Europe’s people
with competitive jobs, better health, and better
public services.

A strong unfragmented DIGITAL EUROPE that takes


leadership in creating digital Inclusion, Green
growth, Innovation, Trust, Agile mission-based policy
making that drives prosperity and creates benefits
for the European society and leads globally in an
open economy.
16 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Success indicators
for 2025
To measure Europe’s success in We will review these indicators on a yearly
navigating the digital transformation, basis and publish a progress report.
we have identified 22 success
indicators. At DIGITALEUROPE we For each of the indicators, we have set
believe that these metrics take a 2025 target which we believe is both
the pulse of the European digital ambitious and achievable. We will be
transformation that brings benefits to reporting on these on a yearly basis up
the society at large. until 2025 in order to monitor progress.

By 2025, By 2025,

90%
of people who are without formal education
6%
of working women should
should be regular internet users. At the moment be ICT specialists – currently
61% of people with low or no education use the only 1,4% of women in the
internet less than once a week9. EU are employed as ICT
specialists10.

By 2025, 90% of people who are without formal education should be regular By 2025, every European
internet users. high formal education household should have
medium formal education
Individuals who are regular internet users, by Education level access to

4G
no or low formal education

100% 96%
80% 85%
65%
% of individuals

60%
40%
Today, one household out of
20%
ten in rural areas still does not
0%
2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 have this basic connectivity
right11.

9
Eurostat, Individuals who have never used the internet, by Education level, 2017
10
Eurostat, ICT specialists, by Gender, 2017
11
Eurostat, Rural 4G mobile broadband coverage, 2017
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 17

By 2025, Members States By 2025, fewer than

10%
and companies across
Europe should have
completed retraining for By 2025, Europe should strive
20% of the workforce, to invert the increasing gap of
leaving only 32% of workers cybersecurity professionals
in need of reskilling. that it requires. As of now, the

52%
of internet users should gap is expected to rise to
be deterred from online
purchases due to safety
concerns. In 2015, 19%
of internet users were
350.000
by 202216.
discouraged from online
of workers need some form
purchases because of security
of reskilling12.
concerns15.

By 2025, Member States, By 2025, all large European enterprises should


universities and business have a clear

CYBERSECURITY
should be

TRAINING STRATEGY
SPECIALISTS Efforts need to be made for Small and
for the most in-demand Medium-Sized Enterprises to implement
jobs, including: data analysis cybersecurity strategies by an additional 20%. In
scientists; AI and machine 2015, only 31,6% had formally defined their ICT
learning specialists; big security policy. On this matter there is a great
data specialists; and digital variance with 72,1% of large enterprises having done
transformation managers. so against only 27,1% of small ones14.

% of enterprises with a formally defined ICT security policy

72,1%
By 2025, enterprises in
Europe should be providing
50,9%
ICT training to

30%
31,6%
27,1%

of their employees.
All enterprises Small Medium Large
Today, only 22,6% of all enterprises enterprises enterprises
(10-49 (50-249) (250+)
European enterprise do so13. employees)

12
World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report, 2018
13
Eurostat, Enterprise providing training to their personnel to develop their ICT skills, 2018
14
Eurostat, Enterprises with a formally defined ICT security policy, 2015
15
Eurostat, Security concerns kept individual from ordering or buying online, 2015
16
Frost & Sullivan, 2017 Global Information Security Workforce Study, 2017
17
World Economic Forum, How can digital enable the transition to a more sustainable world?, 2016
18 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

By 2025, By 2025, By 2025,

15% 5G 10%
of all the material used
connections should cover
40% of the European of Research and Innovation
in the economy should be workforce, 70% of spending should be targeted at
recovered and re-used. European industrial sites, ICT technologies – currently only
Today it is only the case for and 80% of main logistics Japan meets this target with the
11,7%18. routes20. US at 8,2 and the EU at 6,8%21.

By 2025, all Member States should have updated their

NATIONAL By 2025, Europe should have


BROADBAND PLANS saved

26
to adapt to the needs of 5G and in line with EU’s connectivity
objectives. billion
tonnes

By 2025, European countries should be spending


of CO 2 emissions by digitising

3% OF
resource-intensive sectors.
According to estimates,

GDP
15,8 billion tonnes can be
saved from the electricity
sector, 9,9 billion tonnes
on Research & Innovation – Japan already meets that from the logistics sector, and
target with 3,3% spending, and in the US it is 2,8%. The EU 540 million tonnes from the
average is 2%22. automotive sector alone17.

By 2025, Share of fixed broadband subscription >= 100Mbps

70%
20,4%
25%
% of workers in need of reskilling

20%

15%

10%
of European households
should have a broadband 5%
connection with 100 Mbps
0%
or more. Today, only one 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
out of five does19.

18
Eurostat, Circular material use rate, 2016
19
Eurostat, Share of fixed broadband subscriptions >=100 Mbps, 2017
20
CSS Insight, 1 Billion Users of 5G by 2023, with More Than Half in China, 2018
21
Eurostat, Public ICT R&D spending, 2016
22
UNESCO, Research and development expenditure, 2015
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 19

By 2025, By 2025, By 2025,

30% 75% 15%


of European manufacturing of EU citizens should be of European enterprises
industries should leverage using eGovernment services, should be selling across
big data analytics. At the compared to the current borders – at the moment only
moment just 10,8% do so23. 52,5%26. 8,4% do so25.

By 2025, By 2025, Europe should be home to

35%
of internet users should order goods or
25%
of the world’s unicorns. In 2017 we were home
services across EU borders – last time it was to just 11,6% (and nearly half of them are based
recorded that figure was a paltry 18%24. in the UK), far behind the US and China28.

By 2025, 30% of EU citizens should use health and care


services provided online
% of people using health services online
By 2025, 60%

30%
50%

40%
% of individuals

30% 18%
of EU citizens should use
health and care services 20%
provided online, following
the example of Estonia and 10%
Finland where almost 50% of
citizens take advantage of 0%
Austria
European Union 28
Slovakia
Czechia
Latvia
Poland
Portugal
France
Ireland
Romania
Bulgaria
Greece
Cyprus
Germany
Hungary
Malta
Estonia
Finland

Sweden
Spain
Slovenia
United Kingdom
Italy
Netherlands
Croatia
Belgium
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Denmark

such services online. In 2018


for the EU, this figure was a
meagre 18%27.

23
Eurostat, Enterprises analysis big data from any source, by Economic sectors, 2018
24
Eurostat, Individuals ordering good or services online, from sellers from other EU countries, 2014
25
Eurostat, Selling online Cross-border, 2018
26
Eurostat, Individuals interacting online with public authorities, last 12 months, 2018
27
Eurostat, Individual using health and care services provided online, 2018
28
CB Insights, The complete list of Unicorn Companies, 2018
20 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Enhance digital development to drive


social inclusion

Digital transformation has the power to


reduce inequalities across Europe. But
doing so relies on empowering everyone
– irrespective of their income, education,
age or gender – and it requires harmonised
action and greater collaboration across all
players.

Today, more than a third of people without

1
formal education end up falling out of
the digital wagon29 and there are 4 times
more ICT specialists that are men than
women30. This represents a social as well as
an economic loss to the EU and meaningful
steps must be taken to promote accessibility
and diversity in the digital sector. The EU
must act to increase the engagement of
women in the technology sector as well as
encourage further inclusion for people
with disabilities to better represent
the wider population within the
digital sector. This social inclusion
must be achieved through both
effective legislation as well as
educational programmes for
our citizens.

AN INCLUSIVE AND
SOCIAL EUROPE
THAT PROMOTES
PARTICIPATION AND
BUILDS TRUST
020 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 21

I mplement efficiently the Encourage more women to


European Accessibility Act engage in the technology sector
and foster greater diversity
Reinforcing the accessibility of products
and services is a common goal of both Technology solutions, especially
the ICT sector and the EU. An efficient Artificial Intelligence (AI) need to be
implementation of the European developed in unbiased and inclusive
Accessibility Act, a key new EU Directive, ways to ensure that they reflect the
will ensure a better implementation of society at large. More diverse and
the United Nations (UN) Convention on demographically representative
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It participation of programmers, AI
will also support the ICT industry in its experts and designers, will help
ongoing mission to act as an enabler achieve this goal. According to
of the social, economic, and political Eurostat, fewer than two in ten ICT
inclusion of people with disabilities. To specialists’ jobs in Europe are held
further advance accessibility and enable by women. Typically, girls do as well
the ICT industry to reach an even higher as or outperform boys in Science,
level of accessibility of its products Technology, Engineering, and
and services, we call on the European Mathematic (STEM) classwork, but
Commission to: their interest in STEM subjects starts
to wane by the age of 15. Therefore,
 Draft and release standardisation more emphasis should be put on
requests (‘mandates’) in a timely gender equality in the ICT sector. It is
manner, to ensure that European important that children are exposed to
Standardisation Organisations have technology at early ages, when they
enough time to draft standards and can develop digital skills and spark
the industry has sufficient time to interest in STEM subjects. Combining
implement them. learning technology with female role
models is crucial in encouraging girls
 Provide guidance to Member to pursue further studies and careers
States during the transposition of in STEM. Concretely, we ask European
the European Accessibility Act into leaders to:
national law to encourage a coherent
European legal framework, with  D evelop educational programmes
only limited national disparities. To that inspire young girls to study ICT
avoid legal uncertainty for economic and STEM subjects.
operators, Market Surveillance
Authorities need to exchange By 2025 6% of working women should be ICT specialists
information to harmonise their
% of employed women & men working as ICT specialists
practices and make their enforcement
activities proportionate to the 5,66%
specificities of accessibility.

1,38%

Women Men

29
Eurostat, Individuals who have never used the internet, by Education level, 2017
30
Eurostat, ICT specialists, by Gender, 2017
22 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Create the jobs and skills


of the future

The digital skills gap slows down Europe’s  rovide state aid exemptions for
P
growth and hampers competitiveness SMEs investing in digital skills
and innovation capacity. Unemployment
training for employees
remains high in the EU while there is
an expectation of 900.000 unfilled
According to Eurostat, in 2017 around 43%
positions requiring digital skills in the EU
of the EU labour force did not have even
by 2020. Boosting the digital skills of the
basic digital skills31, and only one in five
European workforce to match the needs
of companies reported having provided
of companies today and in the future,
training to develop or upgrade ICT skills of
will ensure that companies in Europe (IT
their personnel32. SMEs typically struggle to
and ICT using/driven sectors) can remain
invest in human resources while the large
competitive and grow. Member States
and/or multinational enterprises build
profit from a European Union coordinated
learning plans and training budgets. Due
action that acts upon increased innovation
to their limited resources, SMEs will always
and employability, modernising education
lag behind in terms of talent retention and
and training systems through the diverse
development. Therefore, much emphasis
portfolio of EU funds and programmes. The
should be put into helping SME’s employees
support is reaching tens of thousands of
get proper training even at the expense
local, regional, national, and Europe-wide
of state aid rules. We therefore call upon
projects, and millions of Europeans. EU
European leaders to:
funds and programmes can make a
difference, but more needs to be done in
 Exclude SMEs from state aid rigor in the
helping Europeans acquire digital skills.
area of education and training for their
employees. The state aid exemption
should not exclude, but rather reinforce
or complement, the existing national
tax exemption rules or national fund
schemes for companies supporting their
employees in continuous training efforts.

By 2025, all enterprises in Europe should be providing ICT training to 30% of their employees

Enterprise that provided training to their personnel to develop/upgrade their ICT skills, by Enterprise size

80%
68% Large enterprises
70%
Medium enterprises
60%
Small enterprises
50% 40%
% of employees

40%
30%
17%
20%
10%
0%
2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

31
Eurostat, Digital Skills Indicator, 2017
32
Eurostat, Enterprise providing training to their personnel to develop their ICT skills, 2017
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 23

Strengthen the digital sector The education curricula modernisation


contribution in the modernisation needs to also go beyond primary and
secondary education. There is a great need
of education curricula
for curricula modernisation at vocational
training, university, and adult learning levels.
The digital age requires digital education.
We therefore call on European leaders to:
For more than 10 years, traditional
understanding of literacy has also included
 Ensure a greater presence of the digital
a set of digital skills and media competences
sector in tertiary and adult education to
required in a knowledge-based economy
fuel the digital labour sector faster with
and society. Mandatory education that
the skills required by digital employers.
foresees both using digital equipment
in classrooms and instructional practice
 Modernise national education curricula
that makes effective use of technology
by embracing digital education, sharing
helps children in becoming technology
best examples, supporting initiatives
consumers and digital creators. As digital
(such as EU Code Week, Safer Internet
skills are transversal skills needed in life and
Day, National Digital Skills and Jobs
work, 20 European countries have already
Coalitions), partnering more broadly with
integrated programming or computational
digital sector, and orchestrating dialogue
thinking in their curricula, as a way to also
with stakeholders.
boost other competences such as problem
solving, logical thinking, and creativity.
24 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

 nhance digital skills forecasts for


E Provide work contract flexibility to
better policy accuracy and digital promote EU skills mobility
labour market relevance
Technology innovation changes the
Good policy making requires a solid labour market. Companies are delivering
base of evidence and well-developed services and employees are completing
predictions to inform and guide policy their tasks online, globally, working from
decisions and implementation. anywhere. Digital solutions enable new
Foresight can help improve education and ways of working e.g. teleworking, working
training systems, solve current educational from home, virtual conference rooms, etc.
challenges, offer projections of the future This way of working has a direct impact
trends in employment, and analyse the on working conditions, resulting in an
current and future population’s skills base. increasing number of people working in
Digital transformation impacts the labour part-time jobs or being self-employed.
market not only by increased demand for New business models, driven for example
skills, but also through significant changes by social media, allow new generations
in job profiles – new professions related of employers and employees to work
to cloud computing, big data, AI, machine flexible hours and remotely. In times of
learning, etc., will emerge. As the traditional digital transformation, it is crucial that all
taxonomy of professions changes, the stakeholders, especially companies and
skills forecast must adapt to the nuances trade unions, are involved in rethinking
of the digital workforce. While the Digital the labour contract (ensuring e.g. lifelong
Education Action Plan, Cedefop’s Skills learning, social security, etc.) together with
Panorama or Victory Project – analysing the EU institutions and the Member States.
vacancies in a few EU countries – are steps We specifically urge EU Member States to:
in the right direction, more should be done.
To reduce shortages caused by lack of  Involve the industry, employers, and
information or information mismatches, we trade union organisations in a broad
call upon European leaders to: debate on the proclamation of the
European Pillar of Social Rights, and in
 Enhance digital skills forecasts at particular the proposal for a Directive
national and regional levels. on Transparent and Predictable Working
Conditions, as well as other acts leading
 Invest in deeper analysis of the digital to rethinking employment policies.
skills needed for working with modern
technologies such as: AI, cloud or IoT.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 25

Provide a digital environment that enhances


trust, privacy and security

Trust is fundamentally important as Together, leaders from the EU,


it is the glue that holds relationships governments, and the industry can
together and is the basic prerequisite strengthen our common cybersecurity
for a well-functioning and participatory through information-sharing, best
democracy. While digital technologies do practice, and a common approach to
raise new challenges, they also present secure infrastructure.
great opportunities to increase trust.
Already today, new technologies are Make GDPR implementation fit
being used to provide more transparency for technological change
and easier access to information and
platforms. In the digital age, trust The EU General Data Protection
is closely linked to data protection Regulation (GDPR) has clearly marked
cybersecurity. With the General Data a shift in public conscience about the
Protection Regulation (GDPR), Europe importance of data protection and it has
has set the bar high for the protection generated unprecedented efforts from
of personal data and it should continue companies to ensure compliance with a
to do so. In the area of cybersecurity, complex set of rules and requirements.
Europe must act as one to ensure there These efforts have also been clear on
are no weak links in the chain. Industry the authorities’ side, both in the Member
plays a vital role in fostering cyber States and with the setting up of the new
security and a safe infrastructure and European Data Protection Board (EDPB).
should as such be closely involved in the The complexity and variety of such
development as well as implementation efforts also require new ways of ensuring
of any frameworks designed to identify collaboration and mutual learning
and remedy risks. between the industry and regulators.

By 2025, fewer than 10% of internet users should be deterred from online purchase.
Security concers kept individual from ordering or buying online
Year: 2015

45%

36%
19%
% of individuals

27%

18%

9%

0%
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26 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Changes in technology and business   Support the development of a



models will be sweeping in the future pan-European network of Codes of
and these must be reflected in the Conduct for GDPR implementation for
interpretation and implementation of the SMEs, responding to the common needs
GDPR. This cannot be achieved without of various SME sectors and facilitating
a meaningful industry dialogue with widespread application of the GDPR.
data protection authorities (DPAs), which
should go beyond the current format of Ensure changes to ePrivacy law
stakeholder consultations. improve trust in a fast-changing
technological environment
The independence of DPAs is not at odds
with an open and transparent dialogue
With the GDPR, Europe has set a high
with the industry. Indeed, the DPAs’ very
bar for the protection of personal data.
statutory independence guarantees
Electronic communications undoubtedly
that ongoing structured involvement
represent a significant portion of the
from the industry can greatly increase
data that is processed around the
their knowledge, effectiveness, and
world, with Europe being no exception,
responsiveness. We therefore call on
as new industrial opportunities and
European leaders to:
the proliferation of Internet of Things
(IoT) technologies, connected cars, etc.
 Set up a “Privacy Competence
continue to drive digital transformation
Community,” bringing together the
opportunities.
main stakeholders from the industry,
academia, and non-profit organisations
Europe has already tried to revamp its
to help advance and disseminate the
sectoral rules on privacy in electronic
latest privacy-enhancing solutions and
communications with the ePrivacy
provide structured industry input into the
Regulation proposed under the current
work of the EDPB.
term. The complexity of the negotiations
has shown that the current proposal
 upport a pan-European network of
S fundamentally misunderstands the
GDPR Codes of Conduct for SMEs implications of expanding old rules to
new paradigms. Because ePrivacy is
Preparing for Europe’s new data protection key to improving trust in a fast-changing
law becoming applicable was particularly technological environment, we urge the
challenging for small businesses. Helping next Commission to:
small businesses develop the skills to
understand the most important aspects  Put forward a new proposal for
of their compliance obligations under the ePrivacy Regulation that
the GDPR is desperately needed – fundamentally reassesses the
without action, Europe will be faced with relationship with the GDPR, ensures
continued uncertainty and a waste of and provides clarity on the alignment
economic potential. To facilitate a correct between the two legal instruments,
understanding and implementation of the and enables beneficial uses of
GDPR among Europe’s broad SME base, electronic communications and
we call on European leaders to: terminal equipment data.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 27

Continue efforts to strengthen Promote cybersecurity norms


cybersecurity of behaviour

Cyber hygiene and awareness have Protecting the security of European and
emerged as strategic assets for both global network information systems
corporations and governments. It is fair to requires collaboration between the
say that the wellbeing of entire economies industry and governments. As the fall-out
and societies depends on them. At the from the WannaCry and NotPetya attacks
same time, cybersecurity is a moving target in May and June 2017 shows, substantial
and requires constant adjustment and economic and social damage can be
collaboration to identify and remedy risks, created, and lives put at risk when security
particularly as the attack surface expands vulnerabilities are hoarded for future
with the growth of connected products. exploitation by governments. The damage
from attacks based on such vulnerabilities
Europe has responded to this challenge can be significantly mitigated if vendors
with a comprehensive strategy to improve have prior knowledge of them before they
the overall level of cybersecurity in the EU, are released into the wild and are able to
a key part of which is the Cybersecurity prepare patches and workarounds.
Act giving the European Union Agency
for Network and Information Security Recent attacks, consistent leaks into
(ENISA) a permanent, enhanced mandate, the public domain and a high rate of
and setting up a framework for the rediscovery of vulnerabilities underscore
development of European certification the importance of having transparent
schemes. We want this framework to be processes, subject to meaningful oversight,
successful, which critically depends on the for how governments handle and disclose
schemes’ ability to generate uptake in the vulnerabilities. To this end, we urge the
market and keep up with the various state European Commission, in collaboration
of the art technologies and sectors that with ENISA, to:
could be involved. To this end, we call on
European leaders to:  Launch a Vulnerability Equities Process,
with the purpose of coordinating
 Involve the relevant industry experts in Member State actions balancing
the development of the certifications whether to disclose vulnerabilities or
schemes designed under the temporarily restrict them for purposes of
Cybersecurity Act. Involving the industry law enforcement or national security.
beyond the initial consultation phase,
directly in the development of the By 2025, European enterprises should have a clear
individual schemes, will ensure both the cybersecurity strategy.
quality of the schemes themselves and a % of enterprises with a formally defined ICT security policy
broad uptake of the schemes by industry 72,1%
players.

 Ensure alignment with market-driven 50,9%


standards to facilitate industry adoption
and global scalability. 31,6%
27,1%

All enterprises Small enterprises Medium enterprises Large enterprises


(10-49 employees) (50-249) (250+)
28 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Boost consumer trust by ensuring I mprove consumers’ access to


better and more effective justice in the EU
enforcement of consumer rules
As more and more consumers enjoy
The objective of the Digital Single online shopping, the European
Market strategy is to give better Commission should aim to deliver a fairer
access to goods and services online Single Market that will boost trust in the
by removing unjustified barriers e-Commerce sector and encourage
and improving the confidence of businesses to respond to consumers’
consumers and businesses to buy and growing demand. The European Union
sell cross-border. Effective consumer already has some of the strongest rules
protection is a key enabler of online trust. on consumer protection in the world
This ultimately plays a significant role but needs to ensure that consumers are
in the EU’s competitiveness and growth better educated about the rules and
of e-Commerce markets for goods, that they are better enforced. While
services, and information. A balanced the existing EU consumer framework is
consumer protection framework is considered to be broadly fit for purpose,
essential for further development of these any revision of the rules should be aimed
markets to the benefit of consumers and at their simplification and providing
businesses alike. We therefore call upon consumers with the appropriate tools to
European leaders to: protect them against illegal commercial
practices, and fight mass harm situations.
 When appropriate, adapt existing To improve consumers’ access to justice
contractual rules to changing in the EU and increase consumer trust,
consumer behaviour and current and we call on the European Commission to:
future technological developments
to support innovation while ensuring  Devote its efforts to ensure better
a high level of consumer protection enforcement and awareness of
in order to address the remaining existing consumer rules. This will
obstacles to e-Commerce in Europe. improve people’s access to justice and
increase their trust in the e-Commerce
 Make sure that any new consumer- sector.
related legislation strikes the right
balance between boosting consumer  Adequately equip consumers to
confidence in technology and online fight against mass harm situations
shopping, while providing businesses by not falling short of its ambition
with the necessary legal certainty to in the proposal on representative
keep providing innovative products actions, which aims at harmonising
and services. collective redress mechanisms
in Europe. The new rules should
be based on the Commission’s
2013 own Recommendations and
common principles for injunctive
and compensatory collective redress
mechanisms in the Member States
and integrate necessary safeguards
against forum shopping and
abusive-style litigation that would fail
to benefit consumers.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 29

Conclude an EU-US bilateral


accord for e-evidence

Improving cross-border access to


electronic evidence in criminal matters is
important to provide legal certainty for
both companies operating in this space
and users – both citizens and businesses
– who rely on our members’ services to
store and process some of their most
sensitive and private information. The
e-evidence package proposed by the
European Commission in the current
term is a vital part of ensuring clarity
and harmonisation across the EU. The
next step is to ensure agreements with
third countries that provide similar
rules-based protections for users and
providers when authorities seek access to
data stored on a cross-border basis. To
this end we call on European leaders to:

 Negotiate an executive agreement


with the US in the context of the US
Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of
Data Act (CLOUD Act). An agreement
that builds on similar rules with an
important jurisdiction such as the
US can reinforce protections for
consumers and businesses and act
as a model for other countries with
strong privacy protections and rule of
law, thus limiting conflicts of law.
30 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Build a framework for a sustainable


Europe that leverages the potential of
digital technologies

To transform the European economy and


generate new and sustainable competitive
advantages for Europe, the European
Union is transitioning to a low-carbon, more
resource-efficient, circular economy. This
transition is not only an opportunity for
businesses and citizens, it is also a necessity

2
from an environmental, economic, and
social perspective to move towards a more
productive, higher added value, and more
sustainable economy. The digital industry
strongly supports this transition and has
already taken several steps to advance it
(e.g. digital technologies enable driverless
and connected cars as well as car-sharing
services that contribute to reducing
emissions from transport; in the energy
sector, digital technologies improve the
efficiency of distribution grids and
utility operations). To truly leverage
the benefits of this transition,
Europe should continue to build
a framework for a sustainable,
low-carbon, and resource-
efficient Europe that
leverages the potential
of digital technologies
as key enablers
for sustainable
development.

AN INNOVATIVE AND
SUSTAINABLE EUROPE
THAT BRINGS BENEFITS
TO THE SOCIETY AT LARGE
AND INVESTS IN FUTURE
GENERATIONS
030 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 31

I nvest in a truly circular single  Create conditions for a cross-border


market and accelerate the flow of used products and e-waste to
deployment of digital solutions match supply and demand regarding
recycling, repair, and reuse while
To make sure that valuable materials protecting against illegal practices.
can be recovered, and to share
responsibility in addressing electronic  Stimulate innovation for material
waste, the ICT sector has actively efficiency improvement by supporting
invested in establishing successful waste agreement of effective product
collection schemes and collaborating design standards, EU-wide guidelines
with recyclers throughout all EU Member for green products and services,
States. DIGITALEUROPE members have and cross-sectional collaboration
substantial experience in establishing platforms.
different circular business models that
promote the return, remanufacturing,  Foster healthy global value chains
refurbishment, repair, reuse or for the circular economy and green
upgradeability of products. growth by protecting intellectual
property of all actors involved and
Digital technologies are also important taking into account different needs
enablers for a circular economy. of producers, original equipment
Powerful information sharing tools manufacturers (OEM), materials
(built upon digital technologies) are suppliers, parts suppliers, recyclers,
key to boosting efficient circular use and dismantlers.
of resources, be it materials, product
sharing or second product life. The
By 2025, 15% of all meterial used in the European economy should
sharing economy is also one of the pillars be reused
of environmental solutions and relies on
Circular material re-use rate – % of total material use
the existence of collaborative platforms. 11,7%
14%
12%
We believe there are opportunities for
10%
the EU to further encourage the transition
8%
to a circular economy by creating
6%
a truly circular single market and
developing strategies that accelerate 4%
the development and deployment of 2%
digital technologies. Concretely we ask 0%
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

policymakers to:
32 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Promote the use of digital  Promotion of digital technology to


technologies as enabler for identify and address risks and promote
sustainable development sustainable development in supply
chains.
The EU has played a leading role in the
process that led to the adoption of the  A balanced approach to environmental
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and supply chain regulation for the
and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals digital technology industry that reduces
(SDGs). In the coming years it will be burden, at the same time maintaining
essential for the EU institutions, national and enhancing environmental and
governments, the private sector, and civil social protection while allowing the
society to show continued leadership deployment of digital technology to
in their implementation. Achieving the address the SDG challenges.
SDGs is a shared responsibility and the
digital technology sector is committed to  Promotion of public-private
playing its part by being a leader, enabler, partnerships and collaborations such
facilitator, and trusted advisor. To support as the European Partnership for
the achievement of the SDGs, we ask for: Responsible Minerals (EPRM www.
responsibleminerals.eu) that brings
 Promotion of digital technology such together governments, supply chain
as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, actors, civil society, and other relevant
and broadband as a means to enable stakeholders.
the SDGs; adoption of the policy
framework to leverage the potential
of the technology sector in driving
progress.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 33

 ush forward the EU


P An important potential benefit of the
decarbonisation agenda through digital transformation of the energy
sector is a reduction in global emissions
digitalisation
of greenhouse gases that cause climate
change. By enabling clean energy systems
The digital transformation of the industry
that rely on low-carbon energy sources
in Europe is leading to significant
and are highly efficient in using energy,
opportunities to increase reliability,
digital innovations in the energy sector can
productivity but also to increase energy
speed decarbonisation33.
efficiency and support the move towards a
sustainable, low-carbon economy. Energy
We need policymakers to put together
efficiency of the digital sector goes beyond
the right framework to ensure digital
existing product policy.
technologies are being deployed to
accelerate decarbonisation in key
Over the years, significant energy savings
sectors of the EU economy. For that, we
in ICT equipment have been achieved
specifically call on policymakers to:
through product-specific ecodesign and
energy labelling measures. However, with
 Adopt a digital manufacturing
fast-moving innovation in the sector, and
strategy prioritising sustainability
increased interdependence and complexity
and decarbonisation in key industrial
of connected products, there are limitations
sectors of the EU economy.
to what the ecodesign framework can
deliver in terms of contributing to long-term
 Ensure environment and climate
energy savings and decarbonisation.
rationales are being included in all
impact assessments about future
Digital technologies, data, and analytics are
digital regulation.
key enablers for the EU to move towards
a smarter, more connected, and efficient
economy. DIGITALEUROPE therefore calls
By 2025, Europe should have saved 26 billion tonnes
for a holistic approach: of CO2 by digitising resource-intensive sectors.
Expected metric tones of net CO2 emissions avoided thanks
 Set benchmarks instead of over- to digitisation from 2016 to 2025
regulating product groups and to
15,8 billion
introduce incentives for additional
investments in product or system energy
efficiency improvements.
9,9 billion
 Support innovative connected
system power management and
dematerialisation technologies that will
bring real energy and materials savings
to end-consumers.
540 million
Electricity Logistics Automotive
Sector Sector Sector

33
 or example: Based on a distributed, secure, and decentralised infrastructure, Blockchain is already accelerating the energy transition. Combined with
F
micro grids that enable the construction of autonomous energy communities, they facilitate the creation of the local “peer-to-peer” markets needed
to develop renewable energies. That is core to the development of prosumers – active energy users who both consume and produce local energy; the
critical step toward a bottom-up decarbonisation of the energy system. The convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology
(OT) to create a more flexible, dynamic, and sustainable energy future is being crafted by the convergence of four main mega trends – smart
technology to drive real energy sustainability; new business models to drive customer centricity; connectivity and convergence to enable valuable data
capture and drive innovation and efficiency; and innovating to zero to create the vision. The future is about digital energy and it is all about integration:
That means the integration of an increasingly complex and diverse range of generating assets as the global energy mix diversifies, and the integration
and deployment of advanced IT and digital solutions to drive more efficient use of resources.
34 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Boost digital infrastructure to enhance


connectivity

Citizens and businesses rely more and  Improve the regulatory environment
more on fast internet for accessing, to make it more investment-conducive,
consuming, and sharing content and to unleash private investments in
information. With this growing need for network upgrades.
high capacity broadband connections,
which are key for both economic  Fund broadband and connectivity
development and social inclusion, projects under the Multiannual
an appropriate and solid regulatory Financial Framework, with easier
framework is also needed in order to access for local authorities to avoid
create economies of scale, to facilitate under-utilisation of public funds.
investment, and to stimulate timely
deployment of new fixed and wireless  Enhance market investment by a
networks. It is also important to have harmonised and forward-looking
such a forward-looking framework implementation of the Electronic
to deliver the benefits for the society Communications Code and
by having an accessible and reliable accompanying Guidelines (from the
internet infrastructure. New, faster Body of European Regulators for
5G connections, internet access in Electronic Communications (BEREC)),
rural areas, and networks for IoT for instance on co-investment and
and machine-to-machine (M2M) broadband mapping. This should
applications depend on an efficient be aligned with a review of the state
and coordinated regulatory approach aid guidelines to ensure Europe can
to spectrum management as well match the 2025 connectivity and
as the roll-out of next-generation gigabit society goals.
broadband.
 Put into practice the Broadband
Stimulate investment in digital Cost Reduction Directive to facilitate
infrastructure network deployment.

Connectivity, fixed and wireless, is the  nsure a 5G-ready spectrum and


E
backbone of the digitalised economy and connectivity environment
the society. It is an essential prerequisite
for business and companies in order This requires reliable, robust, and next-
to reach wider markets and upgrade generation network coverage and
their services. However, Europe is still connectivity across Europe.
facing an investment gap in connectivity Lack of spectrum availability, or strong
compared to other parts of the world, divergences between countries, however,
leading to lacking and diverging network cause delays, fragmentation, and reduce
availability between and within Member economies of scale for the development
States. We call on European leaders to and deployment of digital infrastructure.
work towards increased, more thorough EU Member States, the European
public-private investment in digital Commission, and related agencies and
infrastructure. More concretely, we ask bodies, should continue to strive for a
European leaders to: harmonised framework on spectrum.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 35

Concretely we call upon European  Ensure a consistent and collaborative


leaders to: approach to licence durations, access
and usage conditions, and reduction
 Make spectrum available for of deployment burdens (such as
services, including 5G, in a timely and streamlined ‘small cells’ and wireless
coordinated manner (such as the 5G equipment deployment rules).
Action Plan and 5G Pioneer bands).
 Maximise investments in 5G and
create incentives for market actors to
achieve scale of operation and invest
with confidence.

Enhance innovation and the adoption of


emerging technologies (AI, IoT, etc.)

Innovative digital technologies can adoption and the creation of innovative


provide Europe’s people with competitive eco-systems enhancing innovation in
jobs, better health, and better public areas like AI, IoT, 5G. Whilst the European
services. However, in order to reap the Commission’s proposal for the “Digital
potential of these technologies and to Europe investment programme” is a
position Europe as a global leader, access good first step in the right direction, much
to capital and strategic investments in more funding is needed in order to truly
innovation are crucial. Europe can only enhance innovation and to invest in the
lead if it invests in European technology future.

By 2025, European countries should be spending 3% of their GDP


on Research & Innovation

Research and development expenditure (% of GDP)

4,0%

3,5%
3,3%
3,0% 2,8%
2,5%
2%
2,0%

1,5%

1,0%

0,5%

0,0%
1996 2000 2005 2010 2015
36 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Make the industry a key advisor  Ensure that the implementation of


for the implementation of Horizon Europe is done in concertation
Horizon Europe with the ICT industry, particularly
regarding the implementation of pillar
The ICT industry has a lot to offer 2: “Societal challenges and industry
to European research — from giving competitiveness”. This means that
access to other researchers to specific implementation issues, set either in
markets, industry networks and the Commission’s Strategic Planning
high-end infrastructures, to providing process or in the Specific Programme
additional technical resources. The decision, should be discussed with
European framework programme industry stakeholders at every stage of
for research and innovation, Horizon the implementation process.
Europe, allows the industry to
exchange new ideas for state-of- Pave the way for the next Digital
the-art research, apply them to Europe programme
address societal challenges, build
platforms, and establish networks of The brand-new ‘Digital Europe’
talented people. To reap the potential funding programme launched by the
for Horizon Europe to really deliver European Commission will be critical in
on its promises towards innovation bridging the gap between the Horizon
for future growth, we call on the Europe programme (research) and the
European Commission to: Connecting Europe Facility (physical ICT
infrastructures), through investment in IT
capacities to be used for research, and
participation in large-scale deployment,
diffusion and uptake of key digital
technologies. Given the importance of
By 2025, 10% of Research & Innovation spending should be targeted the proposed Digital Europe programme
at ICT technologies and to secure its success, we call on the
Public ICT R&D spending as % of total R&D spending
European Commission to:

12%  Ensure that the implementation of the


proposed Digital Europe programme
10% 10%
is well-thought out and based on
8,2% consultation and exchanges with the
8% ICT industry.
6,8%
6%  Start working on the next edition of
the Digital Europe programme, with
4%
a much more ambitious scope of
activities and a significantly higher
2%
budget, to cover all the ICT fields that
0%
are currently part of the research
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 programme Horizon Europe.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 37

Europe has a good chance to be a world Manufacturing is central to Europe’s


leader in Digital Manufacturing. economy contributing to 36 million jobs with
every new job creating 1,5 to 2 jobs in other
Europe currently has the highest sectors. Globally, 87% of manufacturers
concentration of robots increasing quality plan to adopt machine learning by
and delivering products efficiently. It is 202234 however, only 11% of European
also an industry that uses innovative and manufactures make use of big data
clean technology that will greatly improve analytics.35
the sustainable transformation of the
manufacturing sector. Digital has the While automation is set to cause job losses
potential to drastically reduce the material it is foreseen that it will also create 58
and energy waste from its production million more jobs than it will displace. To
processes and to produce equipment that ensure job losses are minimised will require
will lead to the decarbonisation of European reskilling. In some case (13%), reskilling
industries. The sector will be a driver for the would take less than a month. But for 12% of
Internet of Things (IoT), connected devices employees, reskilling could take more than
create benefits in areas from healthcare to a year36.
transportation systems.

Europe needs to develop a strong cross


By 2025, 30% of European manufacturing industries
sectoral eco-system driving innovation in
should leverage big data analytics
Digital manufacturing, support digital tools
% of manufacturing enterprises that use a set of digital
that will enhance the industrial processes technologies
for sustainability and carbon neutrality,
51,5%
develop a strong 5G infrastructure, and
strive for a mission-based harmonised
regulatory framework that decreases the
time of deployment to European and global
markets. 31.6%
19,3% 19,2%
According to Eurostat and the World
10,8%
Economic Forum there has been 1,5 million
net new jobs in the EU’s manufacturing
sector since 2013 and an increase of 2,7% in
Electronic Tracking Electronic Big Data
labour productivity per annum since 2009 – resource technology Supply Chain Analytics
higher than the US and Korea. planning tool (RFID)

34
World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report, 2018
35
Eurostat, Enterprises analysing big data from any data source by Economic sectors, 2018
36
World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report, 2018
38 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

We therefore call upon leaders to: The sector is responsible for innovation
and is crucial to enable digitalisation –
 efine a clear action plan involving
D the sector in the EU is building robotics
all stakeholders on reskilling and and digital machines. Tough regulation
will outsource production to other areas
upskilling its workforce to embrace
of the globe, where the usage of AI/
digital production processes Data in development, innovation, and
production is less regulated. Therefore,
The digital transformation of European some key principles include:
industries will require reskilling and
upskilling the workforce to be integrated  R
 egulation that will boost EU’s
into the process of automation. It capabilities in manufacturing
has become clear that robotics and the tools and hardware (sensors,
automation cannot function without human connectivity, semi-conductors,
involvement and oversight. This will require automation, robotics, 5G etc.) that
accelerating an action plan involving the enable the digitalisation for all
industry, trade unions, institutes, NGOs,
other actors. Without its own strong
governments from all member states to
digital manufacturing sector, the EU
be involved in developing and leveraging
would be dependent on technology-
public funds to reskill the work force
imports from other countries.
and ensure workers are not excluded as
the industry transforms, achieving full
 R
 ecognise that the EU has leading
employment. The area of a workforce with
global companies in industrial AI,
digital skills is mission critical for the EU’s
automation, and applied robotics.
growth and to mitigate any impact on job
EU funding, the application of state
losses caused by the digital transformation.
aid rules and important projects of
The EU and governments should Common European Interest (IPCEIs)
collaborate with our industry to deliver should help to secure this position.
an assessment on the skills gap in each
Member State and define solutions.  E
 U regulation always has to
differentiate between the scope
Drive mission-based digital and the area where it applies.
innovation policies focused on Good intentioned regulation for key
Digital Manufacturing technologies in one area (consumer
protection), should not limit other
The importance of the growth of areas from applying those key
Europe’s manufacturing sector should be technologies in different context.
encouraged through the right regulation.
We encourage EU policymakers to think
of its manufacturing sector first before
developing rules that could prove more
burdensome to European companies
– especially smaller to medium sized
companies.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 39

Create an agreement for the Accelerate sustainability


free flow of data through industrial technology

Data is critical for the economic growth Technology is rapidly maturing and
of the manufacturing sector. It will feed advancing to reduce waste, material
into the development of important usage, and energy needs. The role of
innovation in new technologies such Member State governments is crucial in
as AI algorithms and new digital developing programmes necessary for
services. We, therefore, encourage the success of the manufacturing sector
Member States to work with our in this field.
sector to develop a compatible and
interconnected infrastructure for The European manufacturing sector
data exchanges through a secure can reinforce its leadership position
pan-European architecture system. by combining digital and clean
technologies. Typically, a digital twin can
As European manufacturers are now ensure process & products sustainability
international by nature, we must by tracking its life cycle from the
continuously drive the agenda of free design to the recycling stages. Key
flow of data at a global level. examples of such EU measures include
the adoption and creation of waste
Deliver the promised funding management systems, accelerating
levels of the Digital and Horizon research and design of less carbon-
intensive materials to help reduce
Europe Programmes
energy consumption, and reducing
the exploitation of raw materials. The
The European Commission has been
industry and governments should devise
successful with its industry days and
common methodologies and standards
launched a bold proposal for boosting
to measure these benefits.
the infrastructure and deployment
capabilities earmarking funds for
skills, high-performance computing,
innovation hubs, and boosting the
adoption of AI technologies. This
needs to be a top priority for the EU
and all Member States. Both funding
mechanisms are key to stimulate the
creation of local economic actors and
tomorrow’s unicorns.
40 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Build a strong European Union by


strengthening the Single Market without
regulatory fragmentation

The creation of the European Single Market


is one of the most ambitious European
projects and a pillar of the European Union.
Today, the Single Market for products is
arguably the most open and accessible
marketplace in the world. However, the
Single Market for services is not complete,

3
and is fragmented in several areas.
Harmonisation at the EU level is needed to
ensure proper functioning.

Safeguarding and enhancing a functioning


Single Market for products and substantially
improving the situation for services is
therefore of paramount importance for the
future of the European Union.

A STRONG AND
UNITED EUROPE THAT
REFLECTS EUROPEAN
VALUES AND THRIVES
GLOBALLY IN AN OPEN
040
ECONOMY
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 41

This means actively strengthening the  Revise the NLF, focusing on updating
attractiveness of the Single Market and it by modernising and simplifying
counteracting protectionist tendencies compliance procedures, e.g. by
globally. The European Union needs to allowing alternatives to paper-based
simplify market access procedures and “analogue” procedures in order to
improve market surveillance to ensure realise and acknowledge the potential
high-levels of compliance and a safe of digital means of information
marketplace for products and services provision, such as electronic labelling
for consumers and business alike. Where (e-labelling).
services are still fragmented, more
harmonisation efforts will be needed to  Complete and ensure a timely
complete the Single Market project. approval of the Compliance and
Enforcement regulation (“Goods
Finally, the Single Market has been Package”) to ensure that market
a role model for other economies surveillance activities in the EU
over decades with regard to access are effective and increasingly
requirements and functioning, this role harmonised. The main objective
needs to be preserved, but this can has to be that existing legislation
be only done if the EU also “walks the fosters a high-level of compliance
global walk”. and creates a level-playing field that
diligent manufacturers can take full
Revise the New Legislative advantage of while rogue traders and
Framework and ensure effective free-riders are decisively discouraged.
Market Surveillance

Product compliance in the EU risks By 2025, 15% of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should be
becoming more burdensome with selling online across borders
every legislative revision. Frequently, SMEs selling online crossborder
new obligations are added when 8,4%
legislation is revised calling for more 10%
obligations rather than ensuring
8%
proper enforcement of existing
% of entreprises

legal provisions. 10 years after the 6%


establishment of the overarching 4%
framework for selling products in the
EU, the New Legislative Framework 2%
(NLF), is in need of a careful, targeted 0%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
update. Concretely, we ask the
European leaders to:
42 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Safeguard the unique European legislation give more freedom to Member


Standardisation system States to adapt the core legislation. This
is currently the case with the Audiovisual
(Harmonised Standards)
Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and
the European Electronic Communications
One of the most important means of
Code (EECC). This may result in 27 different
complying with the legal requirements for
flavours of the same rules. The different
selling in the Single Market for products is
pace for introduction of technical norms
the availability of European “Harmonised
(for example DVB-T, DVB-T2, MPEG4,
Standards” (HS) listed in the EU Official
HEVC, etc.) in the various Member States
Journal. HS are standards provided by the
is already challenging for the industry. To
European Standardisation organisations
achieve a real single market, we call on the
(ESOs), namely CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI
European Commission to:
and allow the industry to assess and
declare product compliance, often without
 Ensure that the implementation of
third-party involvement. This truly unique
new directives at the Member State
European system is rightly promoted by the
level has no “hidden” technical impact
European Commission globally as a cost
on products (or services). This should
efficient and safe way to ensure product
be done in close cooperation and
compliance. However, the European
mutual trust. This is key for Europe’s
system of Harmonised Standards has been
competitiveness.
in distress for years due to legal concerns,
and risks of becoming dysfunctional
 Ensure that the sum of the various
through the bottleneck in listing standards
directives targeting directly or
in the Official Journal (OJ) – thus
indirectly the same product or service
“harmonising” them. This leads to major
are not contradictory or adding
industry concerns, delays, and a substantial
disproportionate burden.
cost increase for selling products in the EU
across several major sectors. We, therefore,
call on European leaders to: Deliver the full potential of
standardisation
 Set up a task force to save the unique
European System of Harmonised Standardisation plays a crucial role in the
Standards. The objective of this task effective operation of the Single Market,
force has to be to urgently rectify the as fully recognised in the Regulation on
situation by reinstating the balance European Standardisation. This Regulation
between necessary checks of standards introduced an important addition to the
approved by the ESOs at the EU level European Standardisation System by
and their swift publication in the OJ. creating the Multi-Stakeholder-Platform
(MSP) for ICT standardisation. A key
Achieve a real single market for objective of the MSP is the evaluation
of globally important and relevant ICT
audiovisual products and services
standards and specifications in support
of European legislation, policies, and
Product interoperability in the EU is
public procurement. The MSP plays an
becoming very convoluted not only due
important role in the ongoing provision of
to complexity added with every legislative
ICT specifications and standards for public
revision for product compliance (for
procurement and the development of
example legislation on Radio Equipment,
the EU Rolling Plan. The Rolling Plan is an
Energy Labelling, Ecodesign, etc.), but
annual review and assessment of EU policy
also due to the fact that several pieces of
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 43

needs for global ICT standardisation and


adds significant value to the assessment  Apply WTO TBT standardisation
of ongoing, and the stimulation of further principles to develop voluntary technical
standardisation efforts on a global, but requirements where legislation affects
also European levels. It prevents European products or services.
standardisation initiatives from ‘reinventing
the wheel’, orients their efforts, and Modernise the private copying
provides valuable guidance. The MSP is a levies framework
major step in recognising the importance of
ICT standards and specifications produced The current private copying levies
by global fora and consortia. In order to framework in the EU faces incredible
take full advantage of existing and ongoing fragmentation and is completely outdated.
ICT standardisation at the global level, As each Member State has gone in a
Europe should further invest in the MSP. different direction, manufacturers and
Concretely we call on European leaders to: importers of devices are confronted
on a daily basis with high costs and
 Strengthen and further invest in the MSP complicated procedures. Many national
as it provides a unique platform where implementations are in conflict with EU
the European Commission, Member legislation and case law, lacking effective
States, and the industry meet to align exemption and reimbursement options for
views and needs on ICT standardisation. business users. The tariffs collected levies
and affected devices have no consistency
Support global standards and and are not based on factual analysis,
specifications evidence, and impact assessments, nor are
tariffs reduced following the transition to
As more and more legislation related modern media consumption via licensed
to products and services impacts the and paid-for digital services (such as via
ICT industry, we notice inconsistencies streaming and subscriptions, which do
in defining technical requirements that not involve making copies). The problems
support conformity with regulatory stemming from this unbalanced, unclear,
obligations – for example, codes of conduct and fragmented system further lead to
and certification schemes developed litigation and ineffective remuneration,
outside the established standardisation damaging rightsholders as well. We,
process, which risk deviating from World therefore, call on the European Commission
Trade Organisation (WTO) Technical to:
Barriers to Trade (TBT) principles and
creating new trade barriers. We call on  Urgently plan a thorough review of
European leaders to: the private copying levies framework,
including an examination of the
 Support the development of global discrepancies, such as on business
standards and specifications as they reimbursement and exemption, and a
provide the basis for a fair competition clarification of the EU case law to ensure
while avoiding market distortions. These a more harmonised implementation.
global standards should be developed National systems should be based on
in accordance with the principles of evidence with common criteria and
openness, transparency, inclusiveness, benchmarking, rather than the current
consensus, coherence, effectiveness, disparate and conflicting regimes.
global relevance, and impartiality.
44 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Existing and emerging technologies will their data – for example health records or
play a critical role in the public sector. prescriptions. Ensuring these technologies
They will reduce administrative burdens are fully embraced and realise their
and waste, accelerate efficiencies, and potential, will require innovative
most importantly provide important policymaking, such as the use of policy
solutions to societal challenges. Ensuring sandboxes where solutions can be tested,
data is flowing across all Member States and benefits measured.
will allow citizens to access and control

By 2025, 75% of EU citizens should be using eGovernment services


Percentage of Individuals interacting online with public authorities, last 12 months
49%
60%
50%
40%
% of individuals

30%
20%
10%
0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 45

Promote secure public procurement  Increase the use of the Most


Economically Advantageous Tender
Increasing the overall level of (MEAT) principle as award criterion
cybersecurity in the EU must inevitably instead of lowest price as a way to
involve the public sector as a major increase Europe’s ability to use public
buyer of ICT products and services. The procurement to promote digital
public sector is on the front line of the leadership in the public sector.
cyber threat landscape, and security
vulnerabilities could expose critical  nsure access to the free flow of
E
information and citizens’ personal health data to provide patient-
data. While upcoming cybersecurity
centric care
certification schemes may help in this
respect, there is currently no overarching
The European Commission has
policy to help public sector bodies
demonstrated an ambition in its Health
procure secure solutions. To this end, we
and Care Communication to facilitate free
call on the European Commission to:
flow of health data including Electronic
Health Records, genomic information
 Publish a Buying Secure Handbook
for research, disease prevention and
offering guidance to help public
personalised care, and generally to give
authorities buy products and
citizens the right to access and share
services while taking cybersecurity
their health data. Access to data and
considerations into account. The
interoperability are critical for the success
handbook could build on similar
of patient-centric care. To support this
initiatives in the area of Green Public
effort, DIGITALEUROPE asks the European
Procurement (GPP) and would outline
Commission to:
the possibilities for pursuing secure
public procurement under the 2014
 Engage with Member States to assess
Procurement Directives. It is important
the impact of GDPR implementation
to ensure that the industry and other
on the healthcare sector and to
relevant stakeholders are closely
ensure, across the EU, the highest
involved.
level of coherence with regard to the
processing of genetic and health data.
 Utilise existing structures at the EU
level, such as the Commission’s
 Address the interoperability issue via a
cooperation with the Central
common approach to electronic health
Purchasing Bodies (CPBs) Public
records and genomic data.
Procurement Network, to foster
best-practice sharing amongst
 Support the idea of an EU-wide
national central procurement bodies
educational campaign on the benefits
on procuring cyber-secure products
of and mechanisms for health data
and services.
sharing to break down misconceptions
and support the actions put forward by
the Communication.
46 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Provide innovative policy and  Clarify the status of borderline


regulatory approaches for health-related software within the
context of medical devices legislation
innovative digital health solutions
and develop processes to bring low
risk software solutions to market in a
Digital health solutions have the potential
relatively short time period.
to revolutionise how citizens manage
their wellbeing and health, how patients
 Encourage closer collaboration
manage their treatments day-to-day,
between the industry and market
and improve the effectiveness of health
surveillance/safety authorities to
systems. Wearables, m-health medical
engage and test early in the process
device software, machine learning and
for innovative and disruptive solutions.
AI applied to health, are all existing and
promising answers to old health issues,
 Spur the development of effective
spearheaded by a broader set of actors
health apps through reimbursement
in the market.
schemes at national level.
This view is wholeheartedly
 Encourage the uptake of AI and
embraced by the Commission in its
machine learning solutions in the
April 2018 Communication on Digital
health sector, notably through
Transformation of Health and Care in the
innovative approaches to safety
Digital Single Market, particularly its third
evaluation, progressive policies on
pillar on citizens’ empowerment. The time
health data, and through sector-
has come to put these into action.
specific collaboration and guidance.
In this light, DIGITALEUROPE calls on the
European Commission to help national
 Be more ambitious in its goal for
health systems and regulators bring
sharing health records across
these solutions to market. This will require
Member State borders beyond health
a shift in approach to regulation and
record summaries. The full ownership
market access, as well as regulatory
of health records by a European
scrutiny, and active efforts to create the
citizen to function as a digital passport
right market conditions for the effective
that will travel with the individual
development of these solutions. More
everywhere will accelerate the
specifically, the European Commission
benefits of patient-centric care.
should work with Member States to:
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 47

Push for fair global competition and


boost European competitiveness

Global trade is essential for Europe’s  Advocate for regulatory convergence


growth, jobs and competitiveness. ICT and acceptance of global standards.
is global by default and enables global
value chains for every sector of the  Oppose forced localisation measures
economy. A stable, predictable, and open and raise awareness globally on the
global economy is therefore crucial. With negative impacts of such requirements
the rising threat of protectionism and for the digitalised economy.
increased pressure on the multilateral
trading system, DIGITALEUROPE believes Protect innovators within and
that Europe should continue to promote outside the European borders
an open and rules-based trading system.
Europe needs to lead by example and Patents and IPR protection are
strive for market access and preserve important to encourage investment
openness. This provides an opportunity for in R&D, spur growth, and create new
the EU to display trade leadership again in jobs across Europe, contributing to an
everyone’s best interest. increased European competitiveness.
DIGITALEUROPE believes that patent
Promote open markets and foster protection in Europe should be improved
fair competitiont and patents should be better enforced
within Europe and beyond. This will help
The World Trade Organisation (WTO), create a level playing field while enabling
born in 1995 as an expansion of the GATT, European innovators, big and small, to
is crucial to ensure an open, fair, and protect the results of their R&D investments
rules-based trading system. The system abroad. We ask European leaders to:
is however increasingly under strain and
requires modernisation to adapt to the  Secure the introduction of the Unitary
challenges of the fast-changing global Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent
economy. The increasingly digitalised Court (UPC) – a long awaited balanced
economy brings new forms of challenges reform that has the potential to
and forms of protectionism and market significantly reduce costs and simplify
access barriers. In order to keep promoting procedures for obtaining, maintaining,
open markets and to foster fair competition, and enforcing patent protection in
we call on European leaders to: Europe.

 Advocate for the reform and expansion  Find a path forward for the UK’s
of the multilateral rules-based continued involvement in the UP and
trading system (WTO) to strengthen a UPC post-Brexit.
multilateral rules-based system that
has been instrumental for smooth,  Ensure that EU trading partners
productive trading around the world, maintain a high level of IPR protection
hence for spreading global growth and consistent with their international
prosperity. commitments.

 Grant maximum access to markets with


minimum restrictions.
48 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

Take leadership and set up Ensure trade facilitation measures


the digital ‘standard’ in trade
agreements Simplification and modernisation of
international trade procedures, such
The European Commission is involved as import and export requirements,
in numerous trade negotiations will boost trade and bring crucial
covering various geographical scopes. socio-economic benefits to Europe. The
DIGITALEUROPE believes that all trade European Customs Union is a cornerstone
deals (at multi-, pluri- or bi-lateral levels) of the European Single Market and plays
should remove tariffs and non-tariff an important role in the facilitation of
barriers and include commitments that trade. In order to offer better access
promote the growth of ICT goods and for consumers and businesses to digital
services, telecoms, cloud computing, and goods and services across Europe, and
e-commerce. They should ensure that the to lead by example globally, we call on
digital ecosystem and the data that flows European leaders to:
through it remain open to innovation and
commerce globally. Digital technologies,  Promote an innovation-friendly
free flow of data, and e-commerce are approach to customs policy.
vital to the growth and development of
the global economy and we, therefore,  Advocate for Export Control Regulation
call on European leaders to: to support frictionless export practices,
aligned with internationally agreed
 Support the WTO e-commerce parameters.
initiative as it is an important venue
for the development of e-commerce Negotiate a comprehensive,
rules that ensure companies can grow, global, long-term tax solution
innovate, and create jobs with free flow
of data as a key principle. DIGITALEUROPE believes that to
update the tax system to digital era, a
 Expand digital trade chapters in comprehensive, global, long-term tax
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that solution should be negotiated at the
aim to scale up free flow of data, Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and combat challenges related to and Development (OECD). Furthermore,
forced localisation (e.g. obligation to the OECD should be given the time
disclose source code), geoblocking and to complete its work as scheduled, in
copyright. 2020. National governments should be
careful not to fall in the trap of agreeing
 Provide access to innovative digital to impose short-term, globally different
goods and services. taxes (such as digital services tax) based
on gross revenues or targeted to one
particular sector of the economy: this
amounts to deciding to deliberately harm
the competitiveness of the EU and risk
retaliation measures from other countries.
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 49

The OECD has announced their updated  There is no digital economy, only a
report on “Tax Challenges Arising from fast-digitising economy, worldwide.
Digitalisation” will be released during Changes in the global tax framework
spring 2019. Making legally binding should therefore cover the whole
agreements beforehand at the EU level economy.
would trap the EU to a hastily made
legislation, unable to be edited based on  To safeguard the principle of fairness
the final recommendations of the OECD and integrity in tax policy, any tax on
and changes in business models during corporate activity should be linked to
the upcoming years. profit, not revenues; it should comply
with applicable tax treaties and not
DIGITALEUROPE, therefore, urges result in double taxation.
national governments to wait until 2020
and participate with partners in the
base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS)
initiative led by the OECD for taxation of
the digitalised economy that is fair and
effective for all industries. In shaping future
rules, due regard should be given to the
following two considerations:
50 A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E

DIGITALEUROPE
Membership
Corporate Members
Airbus, Amazon, AMD, Apple, Arçelik, Bosch, Bose, Brother, Canon, Cisco, Dell,
Dropbox, Epson, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Hitachi, HP
Inc., Huawei, Intel, JVC Kenwood Group, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Lenovo, Lexmark,
LG Electronics, Loewe, MasterCard, METRO, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric Europe,
Motorola Solutions, MSD Europe Inc., NEC, Nokia, Nvidia Ltd., Océ, Oki, Oracle, Palo
Alto Networks, Panasonic Europe, Philips, Pioneer, Qualcomm, Ricoh Europe PLC,
Rockwell Automation, Samsung, SAP, SAS, Schneider Electric, Sharp Electronics,
Siemens, Siemens Healthineers, Sony, Swatch Group, Tata Consultancy Services,
Technicolor, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, TP Vision, VMware, Xerox.

National Trade Associations


Austria: IOÖ Germany: BITKOM, ZVEI Romania: ANIS, APDETIC
Belarus: INFOPARK Greece: SEPE Slovakia: ITAS
Belgium: AGORIA Hungary: IVSZ Slovenia: GZS
Bulgaria: BAIT Ireland: Technology Spain: AMETIC
Croatia: Croatian Ireland Sweden: Foreningen
Chamber of Economy Italy: Anitec-Assinform Teknikföretagen i Sverige,
Cyprus: CITEA Lithuania: INFOBALT IT&Telekomföretagen
Denmark: DI Digital, Luxembourg: APSI Switzerland: SWICO
IT-Branchen Netherlands: Nederland Turkey: Digital Turkey
Estonia: ITL ICT, FIAR Platform, ECID
Finland: TIF Norway: Abelia Ukraine: IT UKRAINE
France: AFNUM, Syntec Poland: KIGEIT, PIIT, United Kingdom: techUK
Numérique, TECH IN ZIPSEE
France Portugal: AGEFE
A S T R O N G E R D I G I TA L E U R O P E 051
DIGITALEUROPE represents the digital technology industry as well as digitally transforming industries in
Europe. We stand for a regulatory environment that enables businesses to grow and citizens to prosper
from the use of digital technologies. We wish Europe to develop, attract and sustain the world’s best
digital talents and technology companies.

DIGITALEUROPE’s members include in total over 35,000 companies in Europe represented by


63 Corporate Members and 40 National Trade Associations from across Europe.

www.digitaleurope.org

@DIGITALEUROPE

For more information please contact:


Lionel Sola, Director of Communications & Political Outreach
Lionel.Sola@digitaleurope.org
+32 492 25 84 32

DIGITALEUROPE
Rue de la Science, 14
B-1040 Brussels
Info@digitaleurope.org
+32 2 609 53 10

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