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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear group members, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This week President Juncker gave (on Wedensday) the 2016 State of the Union address. You can find the whole text here:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><a href="http://www.ec.europa.eu/soteu">www.ec.europa.eu/soteu</a><o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Digital Single Market is a key priority for this Commission. Below you can find also the press release relative to improved internet connectivity for all citizens and businesses in Europe.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-3008_en.htm">http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-3008_en.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On this occasion the Commission proposed an ambitious overhaul of EU telecoms rules with new initiatives to meet Europeans' growing connectivity needs and boost Europe's competitiveness. These proposals will encourage investment in very
high-capacity networks and accelerate public access to Wi-Fi for Europeans.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Documents adopted:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Communication and Staff Working Document – <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/news-redirect/34110">
Connectivity for a Competitive Digital Single Market – towards a European Gigabit Society</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Action Plan and Staff Working Document Communication – <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/news-redirect/34115">
5G for Europe</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/news-redirect/34112">European Electronic Communication Code</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/news-redirect/34114">Regulation on the Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications (BEREC)</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/news-redirect/34228">Regulation on the promotion of Internet connectivity in local communities and public spaces (WiFi4EU)
</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In view of preparing the Madrid meeting, could you please signal which EU developments (if any) would be most interesting to discuss.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Achilleas<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Achilleas Kemos<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Programme Officer - Future Connectivity Systems<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">DG CONNECT <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">European Commission<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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