On Thursday, 12 July, IMCO Committee voted with an overwhelming majority of 33 votes in favour, 3 against and 1 abstention the deal reached by MEP Marlene Mizzi, the Council and the Commission on her legislative report to set up a single digital gateway for the benefit of citizens and businesses. The Mizzi Report will be put to the final vote in plenary in September.

"I am proud to have successfully lead the tripartite discussions concerning the Digital Single Gateway, between the European institutions to make this important legislation possible. After lengthy discussions, my Report on the Single Digital Gateway got the final approval from Member States and from all the political groups in the IMCO Committee. This legislation is an important milestone towards digitalisation of public services in Europe," said MEP Marlene Mizzi.

Member States will be required to grant online access to the most important and frequently used procedures, such as requests for a birth certificate, car registration, permits for business activity, or pension benefits. The information should be available "in a language broadly understood by the largest possible number of cross-border users".

All existing administrative information of all Member States will now be combined into a single search engine. This will make it easier for citizens and businesses to find information, procedures, forms and assistance for people moving to, studying or doing business in another EU country. It will also provide access to key administrative procedures online, such as requesting a birth certificates, car registration, European Health Card, applications for study loans and grants, and permits for business activity amongst many others.

"The Single Digital Gateway would eliminate the need to search in different sites for cross-border information, filing endless forms, and hours waiting at long queues in public offices and the frustration of wasting long hours on-line, at times without getting the required information. This legislation will make a positive difference to our citizens, and this is what gives me the greatest  satisfaction in my work as a legislator and MEP," said MEP Mizzi.