MINISTER OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS Henk Kamp
Bezuidenhoutseweg 73
2594 AC The Hague
The Netherlands
Dear Minister Henk Kamp,
Joint letter from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden and United Kingdom in
preparation of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy and Competitiveness Council
meetings 26 May 2016
A stronger and more coherent Digital Single Market is essential to boost growth and jobs in all
regions across Europe. The benefits of the Digital Single Market can only be reaped if a high level
of ambition is maintained, if progress is made on all necessary elements and if we keep a positive
approach to digital disruption.
We share the vision of a Digital Single Market with a simple, transparent and stable regulatory
environment that stimulates digital entrepreneurship and spurs digitisation across the economy to
the benefit of business and consumers. The Digital Single Market should be characterised by
openness towards innovation and new business models, by stronger competition and minimal
barriers, and a favourable environment for new entrants. A market-based approach where
businesses do not face unjustified burdens, can operate freely across borders like they do in their
home countries, and all legislation is digital by default is equally essential.
We emphasise the importance of taking an evidence-based approach, basing new legislative
proposals on the Better Regulation principles and especially conducting sound and thorough impact
assessments to ensure a balanced and proportional level of regulation.
We encourage the Commission to move ambitiously forward in its efforts to remove regulatory and
non-regulatory barriers in the Digital Single Market taking the following into account.
Build a solid foundation for the digital economy.
For the digital economy to flourish businesses
and consumers must thrive in a trusted and connected digital environment.
We must provide a coherent and technology neutral data-protection regime without overlapping
regulation. We encourage the Commission to deliver an ambitious review of the e-Privacy directive
with the aim to repeal all elements that are no longer fit for purpose while ensuring the right balance
between digital products and services and the fundamental rights of data subjects across the
regulatory framework.