Brussels, 28/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - French and German economy ministers agreed in Paris on 27 October that the two countries will cooperate in the digital sector to generate “powerful momentum” for the creation and growth of start-ups and innovative businesses, the digitisation of industry, the expansion of “big data” and the development of digital knowledge and skill in Europe.
They stress that they will continue to work together, in general, for a single digital market in Europe and in the development of a European strategy in this area. The two countries highlight: 1) swift publication by the European Commission of its report on the economic and social role of platforms; 2) the importance of the European “Free Flow of Data” project, which encourages the free movement of data, subject to strict conditions; 3) the challenges to be met in digitising the economy as a whole; 4) data security, particularly with the emergence of new technologies, such as the cloud.
The agreement follows on from the meeting in Paris on Tuesday of French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at which they discussed the digital priorities to be implemented in the two countries and EU-wide. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also took part in this meeting (see EUROPE 11418). (Original version in French by Isabelle Lamberty)