Brussels, 05/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - Setting up an "EU/US High-level Digital Council" is one of the 20 recommendations put forward by the high level working group created by the Atlantic Council in the "Building a Transatlantic Digital Market: 20 steps till 2020" report presented on Tuesday 5 April during the Council of Lisbon reflection group conference.
The preamble to the report notes that "in general, the transatlantic digital economy is working well but potential benefits from more far-reaching joint action is clashing with two political realities - mutual suspicion and limited confidence". The former Swedish Prime Minister, Carl Bildt, is co-chair of the working group and stated that "the European Unique is not sufficiently encouraging investment, which has led to productivity deficits. For example, Europe has only created 22% of applications made on the market in 2013, whilst the US was behind 42% of them". He warned against the rising power of China "which has invested a lot in the digital economy".
The report presents 20 recommendations to complete an integrated market in five key areas: developing digital trade; improving the component parts of transatlantic digital regulation and establishing standards; introducing models for creating an environment favourable to innovation; restoring trust in transatlantic cooperation regarding private life data protection and making progress in common EU/US values in global internet governance.
The flagship idea in this document involves the setting up of a high level digital policy Council on the lines of what already exists in the energy field. The High-Level Group explained that "This body would help to provide a catalyst for policymakers and provide an epicentre for engaging the public and stakeholders. It could also be used to bring together resources and coordinate the efforts made by governments, as well as provide a platform for high-level discussions on regulatory impact and best practices. It would also provide an alarm system regarding regulatory differences".
Adina-Ioana Valean MEP (Romania, EPP) attended the conference and supported the idea of setting up this council. The workgroup rapporteur, Tyson Barker, said "in addition to this flagship measure, there are a whole load of other more technical measures. We have to be audacious". Technical recommendations include the following ideas: using trade transatlantic trade negotiations on the TTIP to reduce digital barriers and expand digitalisation in global and transatlantic trade; increase the use of revision clauses and consultation in digital rules and use investment funds and spectrum allocation for encouraging swifter take-up of cutting-edge technologies and reinforcing the business Internet.
The European Commission was represented by Linda Corugedo Steneberg, who indicated that she agreed with the majority of the workgroup's recommendations, apart from those questioning the recent "EU/US privacy shield" (EUROPE 11501). (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)