ETNO welcomes today’s announcement of the portfolios for the new European Commission, ahead of the Parliamentary hearings. We congratulate both Vice-President-elect Andrus Ansip and Commissioner-elect Günther Oettinger on their nomination respectively as Digital Single Market Vice-President and Digital Economy & Society Commissioner.

ETNO, representing Europe’s biggest telecom operators, has, since the beginning, welcomed the high prioritization of ICT policies in the programme that President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker presented to the European Parliament. As the debate on future digital public policies unfolds, ETNO remains committed to contributing to such a pivotal discussion for the future of Europe.

Luigi Gambardella, ETNO Chairman, said: “We share President-elect Juncker’s view that, if we are to build a stronger economy for Europe, we need a stronger digital sector. We believe it is time for a new approach: more growth-enhancing policies and less traditional regulation to benefit both European citizens and businesses”.

ETNO has consistently supported a new approach to the ICT sector, one that recognizes its globalized nature and the increasingly outdated distinction between communications networks, services and the Internet.  The next wave of digital policies needs to fully take into account the extraordinary growth potential that the telecoms sector offers to society.

ETNO represents Europe's biggest telecom operators, who account for over 60% of the total investments and 77% of the total employment of the European telco industry. ETNO members are committed to maintaining and deploying cutting-edge telecoms networks across Europe and to providing innovative services to European citizens.