EU considers taxing U.S. Internet companies
Mr. Oettinger, the top German official in Brussels and the commissioner for the digital economy and society, said in an interview Monday that Europe is currently a "loser" in the information-technology sector but that the situation could be reversed with investment and by creating a level playing field for all digital companies. He stressed the importance of maintaining the region's edge in the automotive sector, which looks set to be disrupted by Internet companies.
"Taxing is an option but not the decided solution," Mr. Oettinger said of the EU's plan for a digital single market. The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, is expected to announce the plans by May. Asked if Google might be taxed for using copyrighted material, he said yes.
The pursuit of a digital single market is central to efforts by the newly appointed commission to reinvigorate Europe's lackluster economy. "Twenty-eight fragmented markets are not good for investment, not good for start-ups, not good for developing new working places and not good for the user," Mr. Oettinger said.
When it comes to foreign technology companies, "if they are playing in our European market then we have some instruments to come to a guarantee that they are acting on the basis of our rules," he said.
Mr. Oettinger, the top German official in Brussels and the commissioner for the digital economy and society, said in an interview Monday that Europe is currently a "loser" in the information-technology sector but that the situation could be reversed with investment and by creating a level playing field for all digital companies. He stressed the importance of maintaining the region's edge in the automotive sector, which looks set to be disrupted by Internet companies.
"Taxing is an option but not the decided solution," Mr. Oettinger said of the EU's plan for a digital single market. The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, is expected to announce the plans by May. Asked if Google might be taxed for using copyrighted material, he said yes.
The pursuit of a digital single market is central to efforts by the newly appointed commission to reinvigorate Europe's lackluster economy. "Twenty-eight fragmented markets are not good for investment, not good for start-ups, not good for developing new working places and not good for the user," Mr. Oettinger said.
When it comes to foreign technology companies, "if they are playing in our European market then we have some instruments to come to a guarantee that they are acting on the basis of our rules," he said.