Brussels — The European Commission’s incoming President Jean-Claude Juncker today announced how he would allocate portfolios among the 28 nominated Commissioners. Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip will be responsible for the Digital Single Market and Gunther Oettinger for Digital Economy and Society. The new Commission is expected to take office on 1st November 2014.
The following can be attributed to Computer & Communications Industry Association Vice President James Waterworth, who runs CCIA’s Brussels office:
“CCIA welcomes the appointment of Andrus Ansip and Gunther Oettinger and looks forward to working with them. It is clear that only by embracing the digital transition can we strengthen our competitiveness and preserve the industrial, social and political fabric of Europe.”
“In his Political Guidelines Jean-Claude Juncker has correctly identified the need to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, and the key role that digital plays in this. Mr Ansip and Mr Oettinger, and the rest of the college of Commissioners, need to ensure Europe’s innovators and citizens get full benefit from the open, global Internet. This means putting in place the right conditions for startup companies and ensuring citizens continue to enjoy the widest access to information, products and services.”
“As 75% of the benefits of the Internet’s benefits accrue to traditional businesses it is vital for Europe’s whole economy that the digital opportunity is not impeded by vested interests with old business models, that prefer not to evolve and compete against new players and technologies.”