Brussels, 18/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Vice President of the European Commission in charge of the Single Digital Market, Andrus Ansip and the Commissioner for the Digital Economy, Günther Oettinger, made an appeal on Twitter for citizens and companies to give their opinions regarding on-going European level digital reform.
On 23 February next between 10 and 11 o'clock, Andrus Ansip will launch a discussion on the theme of “how to build a digital Europe”. This is the second discussion launched on Twitter by the Commission Vice President, following a first attempt in October to “take the pulse” of interested parties. This time, Ansip is seeking to examine the experiences and problems actually encountered in the digital environment by companies and citizens, in an effort to strengthen the Commission's digital strategy proposal due for presentation in May. On his blog, he explained that this will “help us to distil all the ideas down into realistic and achievable areas of action, so that we can bring about real change - and get Europe truly connected and digital”. Interested parties will also have the chance to express themselves on 24 February on the subject, following the Twitter “chat” during the “Digital4EU” conference. Conference participants will include Ansip and Oettinger, as well as Robert Madelin, the Director-General at DG CNECT and Zoran Stancic, Deputy Director-General at DG CONNECT. The specially dedicated conference website has set up a “forum” where interested parties will be able to express their opinions.
On 26 February, it will be Günther Oettinger's turn to call for different opinions and views, but this time it will involve revising European legislation on copyright. During last week's “ Startup Europe Summit” the Commissioner met some of Europe's most innovative and creative entrepreneurs who “clearly called for EU legislation in this field to make their life easier”. Oettinger explained, “Creating a Digital Single Market can boost job creation and generate up to €250 billion of additional growth. It is also for this reason that a reform of copyright rules is among the political priorities of this Commission's mandate”. He added, “I want to hear your views and your stories!” on this subject, in a discussion that begins at 3.30 pm and will last for an hour. (Isabelle Lamberty)