Neelie Kroes, Digital Agenda
(The Netherlands, Liberal)
Background
A prominent figure under Barroso I, then European Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes developed a reputation for being a hard-hitting and assertive Commissioner, unafraid to stand up to business infringements of EU competition regulation. During her tenure, the Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition brought landmark fines against companies such as Microsoft and Intel for unfair business practices and set the standard for a fully regulated and fair internal market. Before moving to Brussels in 2004, Kroes sat on the board of 12 companies, including Volvo and the French defence group Thales. Despite concerns about her proximity to big businesses and her ability to make tough decisions as Competition Commissioner, Kroes imposed record fines on cartels, including the biggest-ever (nearly 1bn euros) on four lift and escalator makers.
Stated objectives on taking office
- To create a single online market;
- To push Europe to invest more in the development of a globally competitive ICT sector;
- To modernise the EU digital infrastructure so that it provides ubiquitous broadband access;
- To reduce the ‘digital divide’;
- To take advantage of new digital opportunities.
Members of the Cabinet
Anthony WHELAN, Head of Cabinet of Cabinet: Anthony Whelan
Lorena BOIX ALONSO, Deputy Head of Cabinet, Audiovisual and information technologies, international relations, digital internal market, EU2020 strategy.
Constantijn VAN ORANJE, Member, Economic analysis, Converged networks, Emerging technologies, ICT
Giuseppe CONTE, Member, Broadband and internet infrastructure, Digital TV, Digital dividend and spectrum
Hervé DUPUY, Member, Digital content, ICT for Health, General affairs
Arnoud BADER, Member, Electronic Communications, Inter-institutional affairs
Carl-Christian BUHR, Member, Research and innovation, Components and systems
Lucas JOSTEN, Policy Assistant, Parliamentary relations
Main actions to date
- Mapping out a European Digital Agenda, which will form one of the pillars of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The action plan focuses on 7 key goals, including the creation of a digital single market and improving areas such as security, standards, infrastructure and green ICT. (CLICK HERE FOR H&K’S IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS);
- Launching a public consultation for the creation of a Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP). The Programme will map out the EU’s short term strategy towards the reallocation of radio spectrum frequencies to allow for greater broadband access across Europe;
- Securing the support of the telecoms ministers of the Council for an agenda to maximise the social and economic potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Europe;
- Highlighting the lack of investment in networks, fragmented digital markets and low ICT skills as key challenges to overcome during her term.
What to expect
Commissioner Kroes has made a solid start to her term in office as head of Europe’s Digital Agenda. As well as setting the foundations for Europe’s future ICT policy, she has also dealt with the need for greater investment in ICT research and initiated a consultation on Europe’s radio spectrum reform. The recent launch of the EU Digital Agenda has set a challenging policy programme to improve e-commerce, accessibility and privacy for EU citizens in the online world, however, as her term continues, her greatest challenge will be her ability to coordinate and develop a truly online digital market in Europe. At the time of writing, Ms Kroes’ VVD Party was ahead in the opinion polls for the upcoming Dutch general election, leading to rumours that she may be appointed Prime Minister following the election. However political commentators in the Netherlands have been sceptical about the likelihood of such an outcome.