'No smartphone' Juncker wants digital future for EU June 30, 2017 - 17:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union's chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker confessed that he still does not own a smartphone on Friday, June 30 but pledged to help build a "digital future" for the bloc, Reuters reports. He was speaking alongside the prime minister of Estonia, which has transformed its post-Soviet economy in part through new technology. As his government takes the rotating chair of EU councils, premier Juri Ratas called for a new free movement of data across EU borders to stimulate economic growth in the bloc. "I shouldn't say it but I have to say it: I still don't have a smartphone," Juncker, the 62-year-old former prime minister of Luxembourg, told a news conference after Ratas had spoken. The Baltic leader, 24 years his junior, had teased him about his lack of mobile connection, Juncker said, by sending him a postcard "like in the 19th century" to invite him to Tallinn. "But even without being a techie I know that our future is digital," the European Commission president insisted. "Digital is the DNA of your country and it needs to become part of the European DNA," he told Ratas. A former Estonian premier runs the digital portfolio in Juncker's Commission in Brussels. The executive's program, backed by national governments, includes commitments to build a "digital single market" for Europe and favor tech investment.  Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity  The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization.Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia.Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty.Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |
