This time we are delighted to host a guest post from Ed Vaizey MP, Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy.
On the 29th December I published a blog post seeking ideas from the public on how to ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of the digital revolution and fully embraces all the ways that digital technologies can transform day-to-day life, the economy and government.
UK Strategy for the Digital Single Market
One of the keys to unlocking digital growth is through unleashing the power of the Digital Single Market in Europe. This is essential to ensuring that UK businesses can scale up and sell to over 500 million potential customers without friction and without having to comply with 28 different administrative requirements everywhere they trade.
A year ago the Prime Minister set out the UK strategy for the Digital Single Market with a specific focus on improving the digital experience for consumers through increased choice, lower prices, and greater mobility and security; and supporting Europe’s entrepreneurs through embracing innovation and competition, and removing barriers and bureaucracy.
Since then, Baroness Neville-Rolfe and I have put in lots of footleather travelling across Europe and making our case.
Influencing the European Commission's Strategy
The European Commission listened to our calls and their strategy for a Digital Single Market put forward a programme that embraced the many opportunities offered by the digital economy. In 2015, we made significant progress on measures championed by the UK:
- We agreed the end of mobile phone roaming charges in 2017, finally giving consumers the freedom to use their devices abroad in the same way they would at home.
- The Commission launched a pricing probe into companies that charge UK consumers more than consumers from other European countries.
- The Commission launched plans to enable European consumers to access digital content they have paid for, such as film or sports subscriptions when travelling in other EU countries; and to clarify rights for consumers when they are shopping online across Europe.
- We have set up a Franco-British taskforce to collaborate with France in exploiting the growth potential of data, and to create a dynamic environment for data-driven innovation.
The UK Consultation Responses
Last year the EU Commission opened a series of consultations to confer with stakeholders and Member States: we have now published our responses to the EU’s consultations on platforms, VAT reform, ICT standards, geoblocking, Audio Visual Media Services, the review of the Satellite and Cable Directive and Electronic Communications.
Throughout these responses, the UK has maintained its focus on open and competitive markets; encouraging innovation; ensuring that investment in creativity is rewarded; and that consumers and businesses can have access to the best goods and services that Europe has to offer.
But there is still so much work to do. We need to pick up the pace and drive forward this agenda in 2016.
I am excited about the opportunities this will bring. The UK is in a brilliant position to take advantage of the opportunities a fully functioning Digital Single Market brings; from e-commerce, to digital manufacturing, to the sharing economy.
We will continue to be at the forefront of shaping this agenda to ensure that we get the right deal that consumers and business demand. I look forward to negotiations with colleagues across Europe in the coming months and will continue to keep you updated on the progress that we are making.