Although Günther Oettinger has been responsible for European financial planning since the beginning of the year, the former Digital Commissioner appears to still be preoccupied with his former area of expertise.
To keep Europe competitive, Günther Oettinger is calling for a massive expansion of digital infrastructure. Speaking to DUB Unternehmermagazin (issue published on July 13), the CDU politician said:
“A powerful digital infrastructure that no longer knows national and regional boundaries is the most important investment of our generation.”
Specifically, he calls for investments of 500 billion euros in Europe's fiber optic networks and 5G technology.
"We need to double the number of installation masts, otherwise we won't be able to do it and will remain stuck in terms of data transport. Because data volumes will explode in the future. To overcome borders and blockages here, we need a clear, European digital strategy,"
said the EU politician.
"Digitalization, automation, and globalization cannot be stopped, but they can be shaped. Therefore, we must succeed in making these trends understandable to as many people as possible and providing them with further training in these areas."
Further training vouchers instead of unconditional basic income
Oettinger sees a massive expansion of digital education as the preferred method. He also wants to combat populism, protectionism, and nationalism in this way:
“They thrive on the fear of change through automation, digitalization, and globalization.”
In order to promote digital training, Oettinger calls for the introduction of digital training vouchers for everyone.
This puts Oettinger close to Federal Labor Minister Andrea Nahles, who also wants individual training opportunities. Concept under the name “Personal Employed Persons Account” But it's broader and also wants to promote start-up support and volunteer work. Both politicians, however, share a rejection of the unconditional basic income (UBI).
While Nahles does not believe in the end of paid work and doesn't want people to become even more dependent on the state, Oettinger warns that a basic income would render the state "financially incapable of taking action." Furthermore, Oettinger argues, the UBI would remove motivational incentives and thus potentially inhibit innovation.
