The Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López, supported this Tuesday the demand that telecommunications operators have once again made to Brussels at the Mobile World Congress (MWC).
“Europe needs size, scale and a common European digital market,” López pointed out. A need expressed by the president of Telefónica, Marc Murtra, in addition to demanding a regulatory framework more favorable to mergers in the sector in order to be able to face the necessary investments and preserve its strategic sovereignty in an environment of growing global rivalry.
In the technological race, especially in that of artificial intelligence (AI), there are two “great giants”—they are the United States and China. Therefore, the minister has indicated that It is necessary for Europe to have a common digital market and “powerful” companies, otherwise “we will not be competitive in the future.”
“I agree (with the sector’s request) and it is a voice that is growing throughout Europe,” said the Minister of Digital Transformation.
Along these lines, the Ministry announced this morning that the Government will allocate 100 million euros to national companies that promote projects aimed at strengthening European digital sovereignty in collaboration with companies from other Member States. The initiative is part of the IPCEI of artificial intelligence, an important project of common European interest on AI designed to support high-impact strategic initiatives that strengthen the technological autonomy of the European Union (EU).
Regarding the potential operation of Indra and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E), López has assured that “he has nothing to say”. At the MWC, Indra’s CEO, José Vicente de los Mozos, assured yesterday that, when he has formed all his opinions on the potential operation with Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E), he will speak with the board of directors of the Spanish company, given that he is handling the matter “personally.”
Likewise, he wanted to call on all political forces to defend the general interest and approve laws such as the Digital Services Directive (DSA) of the European Commission or the ratification of the European ENFA directives (on media freedom) with the aim of Spain being at the “avant-garde” –
López has also mentioned that Spain is one of the first countries to have a law that sets the age of majority to access social networks at 16 years: “I think it is very important that we can approve this law for the protection of minors.”