Reform2Grow: Lets make Europe digital

The Digital Single Market (DSM) is one of the most important projects for the EU. Europe needs new drivers for fast, comprehensive growth and generating new competitive advantages.

The real impact of the Big Data sector on economic growth in Europe is estimated at 280 billion euro by 2020. Reindustrialisation opportunities should include the second dimension - digitisation - if we want to future-proof European industry and be ready in a very short time for the Internet of Things (IoT).

Cross-border harmonisation for borderless Internet

A single market means European harmonisation and supportive rules for creating the kind of added value that comes from having one big market across borders. The Internet was created as a cross-border service, so it is clear that the digital revolution is changing not only all dimensions of our life as individuals, but also has an impact on the whole continent.

The Internet was created as a cross-border service, so it is clear that the digital revolution also has an impact on the whole continent Michał Boni

The fragmentation of this market is a threat - in the area of telecommunications as in any services fields. In many areas the fragmentation is based on Member States’ strong convictions, with a lack of readiness for integration.

How to develop companies and their activities in the digital area when you have to adjust to 28 legal regimes if you want to sell some products and services online?

How to develop companies and their activities in the digital area when you have to adjust to 28 legal regimes if you want to sell some products and services online? Whether it's protecting data that is processed or transferred, paying taxes or generating small businesses based on the re-use of public information, now you are confronted with many different legal conditions across countries.

Economic growth and societal development

But what does ‘Digital Single Market’ mean? It means some completely new opportunities for business growth on the one hand and for societal development on the other.

Digital Single Market means some completely new opportunities for business growth on the one hand and for societal development on the other

First of all, we need common access to fast Internet, and to be open to the next-generation 5G solution.

We need to understand that development of content and services may change the life of millions of people

Secondly, we need to understand that development of content and services may change the life of millions of people. Using open sources for education, changing copyright with respect for both creators and for peoples’ expectations for simple access to goods and products, developing mobile health solutions to improve medical services for patients, using user-friendly administrative channels for delivering services to citizens in interoperable formats, giving citizens the opportunity to take part in participatory democracy via Internet - all these digital solutions are changing Europe.

A holistic approach for maximising the potential of the digital revolution

There is one condition for a digital revolution with much more impact: we should implement the framework for a Digital Single Market not in a fragmented way, but taking a holistic approach and adopting a common timetable.

Access to the Internet makes sense, as does the possibility of using e-signature, privacy and data protection, security of data and the fight against cybercrime, all of which provide for real competitive advantages. But it can only work if all these measures are combined together.

We need new e-skills as a society and young people should start learning the coding, if they want to have appropriate skills for the future labour market

In addition, we need new e-skills as a society, and young people should start learning to code if they want to have appropriate skills for the future labour market.

A fully-implemented Digital Single Market offers huge opportunity: great economic leverage, increased citizen participation and, from the social point of view, a chance to increase equality.

Let's make Europe digital! #reform2grow

We believe in people. #believeinpeople