I was in Cluj again last week. It’s one of my favourite cities – a university town, full of ideas, traditions and rich in history. One way or another, Cluj has always found its way to the forefront of innovation and industry in each of the eight centuries since its first mention in the historical records in 1213.
That’s particularly true today. Cluj is now one of at least four centres of a rapidly expanding IT industry in Romania. Whereas in the past Cluj might have been famous for its engineering plant or its shoe factory, today it is the website factory of Europe. The URLs for major banks in the City of London, football clubs in the English Premier League, big multinationals in the US are all being built by talented young engineers in Cluj. They are constructing the digital single market, where a new shop opens every day.
According to a new study published by leading British businesses this week, the digital single market has the potential to boost the EU’s GDP by 4%. That is provided that we can reduce the barriers to making transactions across the EU online. It’s still too cumbersome to buy from a website in another EU Member State, even if it might offer a better price or a better product. And while small businesses can be hugely successful online, with smart use of social media a good match for the big corporates’ advertising budgets, they still suffer from too much regulation – both at the national and European level.
EU leaders have an opportunity to put this right at the European Council meeting on 24-25 October. It will be discussing just these issues – how to reduce regulation and open up the digital single market, especially for the smallest companies. British businesses are proposing a new ‘common sense filter’ for all new proposals – the COMPETE Principles. No new EU legislation should be brought forward which does not successfully pass through these seven tests.
Competitiveness test
One-in, One-out
Measure impacts
Proportionate rules
Exemptions and lighter regimes
Target for burden reduction
Evaluate and Enforce
The Single Market is a huge asset for the EU, a real point of competitiveness compared with the new growing markets further east. To get the most out of it, it needs to be modern and efficient – fit for business in an on-line world. As digital commerce develops, I have no doubt that cities like Cluj – and others like it in Romania such as Timisoara, Bucharest and Iasi – will be leading the way in constructing the Single Market of the future.
Dear Ambassador ,
Thank you for sharing with us the article on Cluj.I will definitely visit in the near future since I like historical places, buildings, and old cobbled streets , tranquility and etc…Since I am doing charity work, If there is a center for the underprivileged ,homeless, abandoned children etc..kindly let me know so I can visit and provide what is necessary to survive the coming cold winter (clothes , food , etc).
Thank you again,
with Respect,
Prem Roopchandani,
President,
Mayfair investments
tel : 0755528212
My friends in Cluj Childrens’ Oncology Hospital have told me that you visited them recently. My husband (Ian) and I run a small charity, Riverside Trust, from our home in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. We have provided books, games and materials for the Oncology hospital games room for several years. I have written colouring books for small children, and a puzzle book for older children and distribute them widely. I understand that you noticed our new initiative; a small booklet of general information for adults on how patients and their families feel when they have cancer and how other people can support them in practical ways, based upon my own experiences. There seems to be a great need for this, as the leaflet was received with enthusiasm by the hospital, family doctors and church leaders. We have distributed more than 500 copies around Cluj since February.
I would like to thank you for visiting the hospital. The staff were very encouraged by your time with them. I feel privileged to be able to work with Dr Cosnarovici and the psychologist, Corina Şomlea, and to spend time with the children and their families when I am in Cluj.
Ruth Davies
19 10 13
Thanks Ruth. I was so pleased to find your leaflet and learn of your support for cancer patients in Cluj. Keep up the good work! Martin!