Thoughts on Approaching a Digital Union

Digitization can help us challenge social inequalities and discrimination, create jobs and help Europe out […]

13/06/2015

Digitization can help us challenge social inequalities and discrimination, create jobs and help Europe out of the economic crisis. Digital tools will help promote transparency, fairness and accountability in today’s society. Simultaneously, digitization is changing democratic processes and business models. It will be crucial to ensure that these changes benefit all citizens and reflect fundamental values such as individual freedom, pluralism and solidarity.

In order to achieve this, we will need a fully integrated digital strategy with clear legislative and financial ways and means. We should aim for a Digital Union that is more than just a market or an agenda.

Creating sustainable jobs in a digital economy

For the S&D group, an important aspect is the impact that digitization is having on the labour market. ICT development will bring many new jobs in innovative, smart and creative workplaces. To benefit from this, it will be vital that we manage to assist the employees to adapt quickly enough, by funding and encouraging training, retraining and life-long learning. I believe that there is a great need for proactive policies to make both workers and industries fit for a digital future and to ensure that a transition towards a digital working environment does not undermine European working and employment standards.
Adapting a legal framework online

Legal rules will have to be adapted to make EU digital law, trusted, fair, and responsible. A first crucial step to achieve this is agreeing on the data protection regulation, to make sure that citizens are protected online and that there is security of electronic communications and networks technology.

We also need to reform European copyright laws to strengthen creators’ rights and at the same time support public user access to cultural goods. An important step in the process is to review market practices that currently abuse dominant positions to distribute content without adequately compensating the creators. At the same time, we will need to look at sustainable solutions for fair taxation in the digital economy.

It is also essential to strengthen consumer rights online, including a fair EU level solution to geo-blocking, a business practice of restricting access to digital content or even tangible goods based upon the user’s geographical location. This not only hinders the digital economy, but also incites EU consumers to use bypassing tools which may push them into illegal practices.

We also need to quickly agree to an end to roaming charges and guarantee legal certainty for genuine net neutrality.

Towards a progressive digital union

Having recognised the great opportunities and challenges of the digitalization, it is important that we, as policy makers, develop the Internet as a space that is open, accessible and safe for all citizens and that helps businesses to create, communicate and (co-)operate more effectively. We therefore need a strategy that balances digital innovation with the need to protect consumer rights, personal data and privacy.

 

Find all related publications
Publications
26/09/2023

‘Abortion in the EU’ – Country fact sheets

Multispeed access to abortion across member states
26/09/2023

Abortion in the European Union

Actors, issues and discourse
21/09/2023

A European Health Union

A blueprint for generations
18/09/2023

Making trade work for prosperity, people and planet

FEPS Primers series - Arancha González and Yanis Bourgeois
Find all related news
News
20/09/2023

FEPS is recruiting 1 project officer

Notice of vacancy
14/09/2023

FEPS President at the SDG Summit and United Nations General Assembly in New York

FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues is in New York this week on the occasion of […]
14/09/2023

Call for tender – Researcher on inflation

Basic Information Project    The profits-prices spiral: measures to avoid inflation  Partners   TASC (Ireland), Pietro Nenni Foundation (Italy)  […]
12/09/2023

Call for tender – Research and analysis for the project “Progressive paths to rebuild Ukraine”

Basic Information Project Research “In search of a ‘lost generation’. Harnessing youth potential for post-war […]
Find all related in the media
In the media

NATO Deputy Secretary General Geoană: “Democracies should stand united to defend the multilateral global order”

by ReportDifesa.it 25/09/2023
Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Sec Gen, took part to FEPS' Annual Autumn Academy 2023 in a session devoted to “Building a sustainable and multilateral global order”

‘SDG funding gap swells to $137trn’ New Policy Study from FEPS, together with Earth4All, to deliver a five-point plan for the SDGs.

by Edie 19/09/2023
The “SDGs for All” report emphasises that policymakers have the potential to significantly advance SDG implementation by the original 2030 deadline and beyond by enacting five “extraordinary turnarounds” that break away from current trends.

“Trade doesn’t work in isolation from good domestic policies” Interview to Arancha González

by Borderlex 19/09/2023
Interview to Arancha González, former Spanish foreign minister, who released together with FEPS the new book entitled 'The Trade Handbook: Making Trade Work for Prosperity, People and Planet'

AI to ‘determine course of global trade, jobs’ in near future

by The Financial Express 14/09/2023
The Financial Express's article focuses on the publication of FEPS Primer on Trade written by Arancha González Laya and Yanis Bourgeois