The question is whether Europe can afford to leave the first-comer advantages and network effects to others, despite all these obstacles. Europe risks with this attitude to miss out. Despite all expectations from the side of business towards governments, it is of course first of all up to business itself and its organisations to take action and to overcome hesitations. The governments themselves certainly also have an important role they can play. Their task is to produce a favourable legal framework and to get rid of old rules that no longer function.
Governments can also take the initiative to adapt education to the digital economy.
Investing and enterprising in electronic commerce can also be stimulated by the government. The vision on the long term has to be that electronic commerce will structurally increase the dynamics in the European economy. The best way for governments to realise their ambition of stimulating electronic commerce is certainly by setting the example of using it. Indeed, in many European countries the government is the largest buyer. Besides that, each business has to deal with the local or national governments in connection with taxes, customs, permits, and so on.