Connect Europe congratulates Commissioners-designate, supports competitiveness-oriented reform in tech and telecoms

Alessandro Gropelli

Brussels, Strasbourg, 17 September 2024 – Connect Europe, the Association representing leading connectivity providers in Europe, welcomes President von der Leyen’s announcement on the new College of Commissioners and strongly supports the renewed focus on EU competitiveness for the next five years, with particular regard to investment, innovation, security and sustainability.

We congratulate all Commissioners-designate and we look forward to working with the full College, once the European Parliament has concluded the confirmation process. We are ready to provide our expertise, especially in the areas covered by Executive Vice-Presidents Ribera (Clean, Just and Competitive Transition), Virkkunen (Tech sovereignty, Security and Democracy), Séjourné (Prosperity and Industrial Strategy) and Commissioners Dombrovskis (Economy and Productivity), Zaharieva (Startup, research and innovation), McGrath (Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law), and Maroš Šefčovič (Trade and Economic Security).

Digital networks and telecom innovation will be crucial factors in boosting the socio-economic prospects of our citizens and the strength of the European economy. Advanced technologies developed by the European telecom sector can truly empower the achievement of the Commission’s strategic policy goals. This includes gigabit networks, 5G, FTTH, integrated terrestrial-satellite communications, undersea cables as well as innovation in edge cloud, RAN ecosystems, quantum cryptography and 6G research.

In this context, we strongly support the level of ambition and the policy direction set in the European Commission report “The Future of European Competitiveness” by Mario Draghi, which reinforces President von der Leyen’s call for reforms and investments in digital connectivity as part of her political guidelines for the next term. For this reason, we strongly welcome the call in the mission letters to develop a proposal for a Digital Networks Act and to modernise competition policy to allow EU companies to scale up in global markets. We call on European lawmakers and on the nominated Commissioners to ensure that a deep, competitiveness-oriented reform permeates the new European Commission Working Programme.

Connect Europe stands for:

  • Securing unprecedented investment in networks that reach every European, by fundamentally reviewing the EU regulatory framework, moving away from the current ex-ante regulation, reforming spectrum policy, and crafting a strong industrial policy for secure and sustainable connectivity.

  • Making the full use of the potential of the telecom Single Market, by achieving adequate scale in the telecom sector and harmonizing rules so we can seamlessly offer best-in-class services to all European citizens, innovate and develop synergies across borders.

  • Establishing a fresh license to innovate and invest in Europe, by streamlining sectoral regulation, removing unnecessary rules, harmonising more at the EU level and ensuring fairness with other market players in the internet ecosystem.

 

Alessandro Gropelli, Director General-designate of Connect Europe, said: “It’s a whatever-it-takes moment for connectivity in Europe. If we get reform right, all Europeans will get access to gigabit networks and the economy will be able to count on a stronger connectivity ecosystem”.