Press Release: Digital single market: creating opportunities for European companies

Following the presentation by the European Commission of its Digital Single Market strategy on 6 May 2015, and before the European Council discusses it on 25-26 June, the European Parliament decided to hold a debate on this policy package on 19 May with the presence the European Commissioner Andrus Ansip and to announce its own-initiative report on the digital market.

One of the discussed topics was the VAT reduction for e-books, with MEPs asking for quick reform and the European Commission stating to no reform would take place before 2016. A judgment from the European Court of Justice had recently convicted France and Luxembourg for reducing the VAT on digital books unilaterally.

ESO: Background information: A Digital Single Market for Europe: Commission sets out 16 initiatives to make it happen http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-a-digital-single-market-for-europe-commission-sets-out-16-initiatives-to-make-it-happen/

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/4999, 19.05.15: Vice-President Ansip: Making the Digital Single Market a reality http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-4999_en.htm

EurActiv, 20.05.15: Ansip denies ‘rumours’ of encryption backdoors in EU’s digital plan http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/ansip-denies-rumours-encryption-backdoors-eus-digital-plan-314696

EurActiv, 20.05.15: MEPs demand urgent VAT reduction for e-books http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/meps-demand-urgent-vat-reduction-e-books-314691

Politico, 27.05.15: Parliament power struggle over DSM http://www.politico.eu/article/parliament-power-struggle-dsm/

VoteWatch Europe, 29.05.15: How will MEPs shape EU copyright law? http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/how-will-meps-shape-eu-copyright-law/

EurActiv, 24.09.15: Lawmakers rebuke US 'digital protectionism' charges http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/lawmakers-rebuke-protectionism-charges-while-oettinger-silicon-valley-317918

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