During the panel, “Breaking Barriers, Empowering Businesses”, at the Digital Conference ‘Shaping the Next Digital Frontier’ held on Wednesday as part of the Cyprus EU Council Presidency, panelists discussed how simplification can help Europe to become more competitive.
The panel was moderated by Valentinos Polykarpou, the Chairman od the Board of Directors at TechIsland, who discussed the issue of making a more competitive digital Europe with, Vice President, Government Affairs and Policy, Mastercard Simone Wiessmeyer, Member, Governing Board, European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Kyriakos Kokkinos, Head Policy & Deputy Head, Office, Computer & Communications Industry Association Alexandre Roure, and Public Policy Senior Manager, Economic & Regulatory policy, Meta Italy & Cyprus Flavio Arzarello.
Kokkinos said the digital market has failed to operationalise in Europe as there are many regulations to sift through.
“We have 27 national rule books to simplify and unify, which is something of a challenge,” he said.
He added that there are some steps being taken through the digital omnibus, but it remains to be see on how changes will operate.
On his part, Roure seconded Kokkinos, saying that Europe now has more regulations.
“The digital single market is like a mirage. You think you are getting closer, but we are actually getting further away,” he said.
Roure said the rules in Europe are comprehensive, but they are also abstract. He said digital omnibus was a surface level simplification.
On his part, Arzarello said that Europe has strength with many skilled people in technology and science sectors. “The problem is the legislative and regulatory environment we are living in Europe,” he said.
He added, “Many companies with European leadership are establishing themselves abroad.” On the omnibus he said that the ambitions were not enough.
“There is still room for improvement,” he said.
According to Wiessmeyer, the single market has shaped companies.
“Digital sovereignty is gaining traction, if there are not too many diverging national opinions,” she said.
“Simplification can definitely help,” she closed.
