The 2013 Digital Assembly - Hoofdinhoud

This week around 500 of our most digital Europeans gathered in Dublin for the annual Digital Agenda Assembly. This year it was a special Assembly. Not only because for the first time it was held in Dublin, as part of the Irish EU Presidency, but also because I had a fascinating meeting with the 13 year old CEO Jordan Casey. His advice to other kids was simple: start early with coding - it’s the future! Schools should teach coding just like any other subject. If kids know how to do this from an early age, they would do the courses and fill the jobs.

He also saw that more and more girls are doing coding and they were just as good (and bad) as the boys. Jordan’s biggest challenge as an entrepreneur was his age: but he wanted people to look not at his age, but at his competences. Well, believe me, he didn’t need much to convince me. Because within one minute, you could see that he is a very bright young guy, with clear ideas and ambitions, who also happens to be a true diplomat (and a pretty awesome football player too I hear).

I also had the privilege to launch the Dublin Digital Masterplan, with the Lord Mayor of Dublin. A vibrant event, illustrating in an excellent way how a real smart city uses the creativity, the needs and ambitions of its people and businesses to connect, inspire - and create jobs!

The Irish Prime Minister, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, promised me at the beginning of this year that the Irish Presidency would be a Digital Presidency. He and Minister Pat Rabbitte kept their promise - and both are clearly just as keen as I am to see us complete a genuine EU Digital Single Market.

I was also delighted that our Young Advisors and national Digital Champions played a stimulating and critical role. Inspiring, full of ideas, and using their extensive experience and analysis, they presented their visions on the digital single market, digital skills, wifi, education and e-services.

The Irish Digital Champion, Lord Puttnam, in his keynote speech said rightly: “It’s not what you can do, It’s what you do with what you can do“. And I think with this inspiring idea, he can lead new generations into the future. You can see his and other keynote speeches here:

(if you want to jump straight to your favourite bit, it’s Pat Rabbitte to start; some great interviews on the benefits of the web in Ireland from 20′30″; my keynote speech from 23′ ; and Lord Puttnam from 37′30″ - check out the Ferris Bueller reference at 44′10″).

We can look back at a well organised event, full of concrete ideas and ambitions. A new generation is standing up which Europe can be proud of. A generation that can build on the benefits of a true connected continent.

Twitter hashtag: #da13