EU Digital SME Alliance news
Brussels, 28 May 2020 (DIGITAL SME). The European Commission has proposed an additional 750€ billion “Next Generation EU” package to revive the economy after COVID-19. The additional budget is to be embedded within the long-term EU budget (Multi-annual financial framework) 2021-2027.
The recovery plan focuses on “strengthening the Single Market and adapting it to the digital age”, which includes “investing in more and better connectivity”, “stronger industrial and technological presence in strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, supercomputing and cloud” and building a “real data economy” as well as increasing cyber resilience.
DIGITAL SME welcomes the Commission’s plan but emphasises importance of “sustainable digitalisation”
"We welcome the plan announced by the European Commission. It is a bold initiative that will strengthen Europe's digital transformation", said President Dr Oliver Grün in a first reaction to the publication of the Commission’s recovery plan. At the same time, DIGITAL SME maintains that it is important to focus on sustainable digital transformation. DIGITAL SME Vice-President George Brashnarov stressed this point during a meeting with Members of the European Parliament on Monday: “We need to support a sustainable digital transformation as a response to the current crisis. What we mean by that: Companies, but also society as a whole, need to understand that ‘going digital’ does not stop with a Zoom subscription”. A sustainable digital transformation means to rethink business models in line with the opportunities that emerging technologies have to offer. . .