EU Digital Single Market Strategy

On 6 May 2015 the European Commission published its strategy for the digital economy in Europe highlighting that the digital economy is no longer sector specific and confirming that the digital single market is a key priority for the European Commission.

Apart from the economic benefits of a digital single market, the strategy paper highlights the need to boost digital skills, facilitate the creation of innovative start-ups and harmonise rules and regulations.

The strategy paper deals with the need for investment in cloud computing, Big Data and the Internet of things as well as providing cross-border e-commerce rules that can be trusted by both consumers and business. 

One of the areas of focus that will be of interest to technology companies across all sectors is the intention to integrate off-line and on-line laws and to particularly harmonise laws relating to contract formation, e-signatures and data protection.