Talk:How can we shape the digital single market together? – Opening plenary 2015

Content

It was suggested to start with the opportunities a common European digital market brings instead of perceived obstacles (diversity, fragmentation, on-going restrictions etc.). This approach would go along with the overarching theme of EuroDIG “Shaping the Internet together”. It was further remarked that existing divides are manifold (East-West inside the EU as well as EU and non-EU countries etc.). This plenary will benefit from a very good timing because in May the roadmap from the EC will be presented / published, though the discussion must reflect also non EU member states. Bulgaria at the edge of the EU with non EU members as neighbours could play a key role here. Also the European Digital Single Market Strategy, which will be released just a few weeks before the EuroDIG, is aimed at removing barriers/fragmentations in the EU Digital Single Market. It may be worth mentioning existing EU proposals to create one Single Market, notably for net neutrality, abolishment of EU roaming surcharges, and online sales restrictions.

Format

• Option 1 “non-stage”: with a (female) moderator on stage only while introducing with key inputs (incl. a potential EU commissioner and other high-level persons) from the audience and then opening an interactive debate.
• Option 2 traditional stage: with representatives from the main stakeholder groups and gender balanced should introduce to the debate and including the audience as soon as possible.

Other

As a novelty, “questions for the panellists” could be collected beforehand via Tweets and an Online call to feed into the opening debate.

The concept and format of the opening plenary needs be decided ASAP as well as focus, key questions, substance and key participants.