Brussels, 19/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - In a speech given at the FT-Telefonica Millennials summit on 19 September, European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes highlighted the opportunities that the digital era can offer young Europeans if they have the appropriate education in a suitable environment. Stating that 90% of jobs will require digital skills by 2020, Kroes is counting on the young generation to reverse the trend that currently sees Europe lagging behind in the technological race and digital world. “We have the tools. We have the technology. We definitely have the talent (…). Why shouldn't the next Facebook, the next Google, the next Kickstarter be European ? Good questions. I think they can”, stated Kroes.
Kroes says she is determined to give young Europeans the tools they need for the emergence of a new digital generation, and she speaks of three essential conditions for creating a favourable environment - education, jobs and connectivity. With regard to education, new technology must come to support traditional learning, in accordance with the concept of “learning anywhere, anyhow”. “It's about truly integrating technological tools for 21st century teaching”, Kroes stresses. On 25 September, she and European Commissioner for Education Androulla Vassiliou will present proposals “to open up education” in Europe. With regard to jobs, young people must be given the digital skills that will be required by the jobs of tomorrow. The Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs, which was launched last spring (see EUROPE 10798), proposes that relevant actors (for example, companies, public authorities and trainers) commit to common action for training additional professionals in the technology sector - and some of these actors have already responded to the call, Kroes is pleased to state. What is more, with innovation being the common denominator for young dynamic companies, this is about bringing more support to the start-up culture that exists in Europe. The Start-up Europe initiative - a six-part plan that aims to encourage young Europeans to put their innovative ideas into practice - is a second tool that has been set up by the Commission. As part of this initiative, young entrepreneurs have published a manifesto that puts forward ideas that Europe should implement in order to encourage its young entrepreneurs, Kroes states (see EUROPE 10913). Lastly, young Europeans rightly want to stay connected and expect constant, continuous connectivity. On 12 September, Kroes unveiled a telecoms package that should create a favourable environment for meeting these demands. “Kroes outlined that it's not her dream package, or anyone's dream package - but that it is necessarily a compromise that will address a number of urgent problems for consumers, and those building and funding networks”, said Kroes' spokesperson, Ryan Heath. (IL/transl.fl)