EC lays out actions for Digital Single Market strategy

The European Commission on Wednesday published the mid-term review of the Digital Single Market strategy and outlined further actions for the strategy adopted in May 2015.

In the review, the Commission looked at the current progress achieved, and emphasized the political responsibility of the European Parliament and member states to finalize key legislation and complete the strategy by 2018.

By now, it has delivered 35 legislative proposals and policy initiatives, according to the Commission.

The Digital Single Market is one of the Commission's top priorities under Jean-Claude Juncker. A fully functional Digital Single Market could contribute 415 billion euros (451.5 billion U.S. dollars) per year to the EU economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

The Commission identified three main areas where the European Union (EU) needed to act further -- data economy, cyber security, and online platforms.

As for data economy, the Commission is preparing a legislative initiative on the cross-border free flow of non-personal data and an initiative on accessibility and reuse of public and publicly-funded data, said the Commission.

For cyber security, the Commission will work to propose additional measures on cyber security standards and certification to make connected objects more cyber secure.

In the area of online platforms, it will prepare an initiative to address unfair contractual clauses and trading practices identified in platform-to-business relationships.

Moreover, the Commission looked at the need to boost investment in digital infrastructure and technologies which are critical for the full deployment of the digital economy and society.