Oettinger: “Portugal is at the forefront of digital technology … – Observer

The European Commissioner for the digital economy, Günther Oettinger, marked the beginning of ICT in 2015 – the biggest event and information and communication technologies (ICT) in Europe, to remember that you need to create a single digital agenda so that Europe can remain competitive and Portugal, “despite being on the periphery of Europe, is at the heart of digital technology” European.

The fact of the European Commission have organized the conference here is no mere chance. In recent years, despite the need to combat the crisis, Portugal has become an example of digital transformation. (…) Portugal is in the vanguard of European digital technology, “Oettinger said.

Remember that the ICT sector has a direct relationship with the real economy, industry, production or trade , the European Commissioner said that it is necessary that “the digital revolution” integrates all Member States, so that it becomes “stronger” and could compete with the United States (“which has a digital advantage”) or with countries like China , South Korea or Japan.

If we want Europe to keep their jobs, the welfare state and to keep the standard of living, we must mantermo- in which we are already competitive and strengthen where we are not. And all this through a European single digital market. We must take advantage of our brains and integrate older like me, “he said.

Defending the digital revolution must go through the various sectors of the economy, Oettinger said the need to eliminate barriers between Member States. “We have 28 fragmented United States, where there are different rules, different security strategies, different techniques, 28 different research markets. If we could turn this into a single market would be stronger. The digital market has no boundaries, “he said.

About the suspension of the agreement of computer data sharing European citizens to the United States decreed by the EU Court of Justice, the European commissioner told reporters that Europe and the US will continue to legislate to reach an agreement governing data protection and estimates this to be achieved by the end of the year.

Asked about the more than 900,000 job openings ICT for the European Commission estimates that remain unfilled by 2020 in the European Union, Oettinger said that has made contacts with various ministries of science and higher education in several Member States, to agree on how to increase the number of students and offers in these areas.

“We need 160,000 ICT specialists per year,” said the Commissioner, explaining that universities should increase their training offers. And what if this is not enough you need to hire “more people in India and other countries outside Europe,” creating a “green cards” to integrate these professionals in European companies.

ICT 2015 is organized by the European Commission in partnership with the Foundation for Science and Technology. This year’s edition takes place from 20 to 22 October, at the Congress Centre in Lisbon, and is the first time that the event leaves the parent – the country holding the Presidency of the European Council this semester.

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