A fully functioning Digital Single Market is forecast to add EUR 415 billion to the European GDP. Local and regional authorities are therefore enthusiastically seizing the potential of digitalisation, according to Helma Kuhn-Theis, Plenipotentiary for European Affairs of Saarland, Member of Weiskirchen Municipal Council and CoR rapporteur on the Digital Single Market. "The digital single market offers policy makers the chance to create flourishing digital ecosystems, which support SMEs and start-ups at the local and regional level, while generating added value and jobs locally" she explained at the Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC), where her opinion was adopted today.
Generally welcoming the Commission's proposal, Helma Kuhn-Theis underlines the need for broadband access and services in all regions and cities of the EU and a geographical balance in the allocation of funds. Coming from a German region which borders on France and Luxembourg, she is also keen to stress the challenges and opportunities including steps towards net neutrality and the end of roaming charges by 2017.
"The Digital Single Market must facilitate the connection of all areas to broadband services which will be efficient in the long term and contribute to a competitive environment" she underlined, before supporting Commissioner Oettinger's proposal for at least one world class digital innovation hub to be established in every region in Europe. "Local and regional authorities have a key role to play in empowering businesses to master the digital transition and connecting them to local knowledge centres" she said.
Turning to the work that needs to be done at local and regional level for a fully functioning digital single market, the rapporteur highlights the lack of a sustainable data economy: "enormous technical, structural and legal challenges exist for local and regional authorities too." She also stresses the enormous importance of digital literacy and the long-term role that local and regional authorities have to play in the development of e-skills.
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