The Maltese Presidency put the Digital Single Market at the top of its agenda, Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli said today.

She was delivering a speech during the opening session of the European Consumer Day conference on the Digital Single Market organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

Minister Dalli said that there is no better way to reconnect with people than to show that the EU is there to protect their welfare as consumers.

"Boosting the Digital Single Market is a necessity - we need to embrace digitisation as it is now part of our lifestyle", explained Dr Dalli.

Minister Dalli noted that consumers still face barriers when shopping online for goods and services, with only 15% of citizens shopping online from other EU countries.

Dr Dalli also emphasized the need for increased confidence in the digital single market - otherwise consumers remain either too cautious or unable to shop online due to the remaining barriers.

Minister Dalli said that the Maltese Presidency has committed itself to making progress on the legislative dossiers issued under the Digital Single Market strategy, and is giving priority to the e-commerce package adopted in May 2016.

The Minister also referred to the geo-blocking proposal which helps increase consumer confidence in the single market, and noted that unjustified geo-blocking limits consumer opportunities and choices and is the main cause of consumer dissatisfaction whilst leading to fragmentation of the Single Market.

In reference to the end of roaming charges throughout Europe, Minister Dalli reiterated the Maltese Presidency's commitment to advance discussions, in order to strengthen contract rules for EU consumers, particularly rules covering the supply of digital content.