Digital Single Market: EU business cannot afford to lose €1 billion.

EU business cannot afford to lose €1 billion of annual turnover in these times of economic crisis. This is the figure they will reach if the Member States meet the challenge to adapt the European Single Market to the digital revolution that has transformed the economy.

The European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee today approved by a large majority the recommendations proposed by EPP Group MEP Pablo Arias Echevarría to make real a Digital Single Market.

"If we want to end this economic crisis, we need to put a stop to the obstacles that are blocking the development of the Digital Single Market", Pablo Echevarría MEP said. "The only way out of the crisis will be digital", he underlined.

"Twenty years after the creation of the European Single Market for the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, the Digital Single Market is the key to recovering economic growth, reactivating consumption and thus creating jobs, especially for young people", he explained.

To reach the target, the Resolution emphasises the need to connect SMEs to the digital revolution, as there are 23 million in Europe, representing 99% of EU business, employing 85% of the European workforce and are the main tool for innovation. For every job lost in the traditional 'offline' sector, the Internet economy creates 2.6 jobs, and offers better options for consumers, especially in rural or remote areas", Arias Echevarría said.

Among the concrete proposals that the European Parliament highlights to boost the Digital Single Market are the consolidation of broadband networks, the promotion of security in online payment systems, the simplification of VAT, the need to improve delivery services and the harmonisation of the regulatory framework. For the EPP Group MEP, one of the key issues is to build trust in the system between consumers, so the Resolution points out the need to legislate on issues linked to transparency, security and protection of user data. Arias Echevarría MEP bets on the creation of a European Trustmark for digital services, which will inform and provide assurance to consumers.