European Parliament adopts digital single market report

Our readers will recall the European Commission (EC) publishing a much-anticipated strategy for a Digital Single Market back in May last year (see previous reports).

Today (Tuesday) the report was approved by MEP’s of the European Parliament (EP) 551 to 88, with 39 abstentions, who called on the European Union (EU) to become a leader in the digital economy, fostering jobs, innovation and consumer welfare.

The European Parliament went on to task the European Commission for delivery of concrete proposals on 16 initiatives designed to improve the functioning of the existing Digital Market by the end of 2016, saying a unified European market would bring benefits of Euro 5.6 billion per annum.

Parliament will also co-legislate on equal footing with the EU Council of Ministers on the legislative proposals to boost the Digital Single Market.

Maarten Haijer, secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) welcomed the adoption of the report saying: “We applaud that both the European Parliament and Commission have invested significant political attention in the Digital Single Market over the last 12 months.

“We are now looking forward to a swift legislative process that will take away national barriers and ensure that the EU’s 500 million consumers have access to European digital products.”

The EC has its work cut out and faces substantial challenges in dealing with the current state of national regulation rather than one licence across EU member states.

As a refresher, the full text of the EC’s “A Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe” can be accessed at: http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/digital-single-market/docs/dsm-communication_en.pdf