After unveiling the EU's digital strategy for the next 10 years, the new European Commissioner for ICT, Neelie Kroes, issued a stark warning. "Without proper use of ICT over the next decade, Europe will become a broken economy," she said at the World Conference on IT in Amsterdam. "The ageing lady Europe can't afford to hold back."

Claiming that over the past 15 years ICT has driven 50% of Europe's productivity growth, Kroes believes the EU Digital Agenda is an essential means of ensuring the world's largest single market remains competitive with the US and advanced Asian economies. Its basis is an ambitious seven-point plan that will entail the making of 31 new laws, many of which will have major repercussions for enterprises.

Key points for CIOs to note include:

• The completion of the single digital European market, as envisaged by her predecessor, Viviane Reding. Commenting on this, Kroes said, "Europe is already behind major economies like the US on ICT. This will not change so long as the only true digital single market is illegal."

• To help facilitate the single digital market and increase innovation, a renewed commitment to open standards and interoperability.

• "Reinforced" rules on personal data protection. It is highly likely that the EU will force website operators to report security breaches.

• Internet connections with speeds of 30 Mbps or more for all EU citizens.

The Digital Agenda is an integral part of the EC's Europe 2020 strategy, in which it targets "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth". Microsoft's European chairman, Jan Muehlfeit, believes that, for it to be successfully implemented, new ICT delivery models will be key. "It will all be enabled through technology, and cloud computing can play a huge role," he commented.

Data feed

• 60% of EU citizens use the internet at least once a week, compared to just 56% in the US.

• Only 54% of EU internet users buy or sell goods online, compared to 75% in the US.

• 25% of EU citizens have a fixed broadband subscription, making the EU the world's largest broadband market by volume.

• Only 1% of EU citizens have a fibre connection to the internet, compared to 12% in Japan and 15% in South Korea.

• ICT accounts for 25% of total business investments in R&D in the EU.

(Source: Eurostat/European Commission)