Today the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Age has been signed by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the EU. I had the honour to represent the European Parliament during these negotiations. And I believe this declaration can really be a game-changer.

Many European citizens are not aware that the rights they enjoy offline, also apply online. This declaration is a turning point as it clearly spells out what rights citizens enjoy in the EU and which principles will guide us throughout this digital transformation.

Given that there are a lot of concerns on workers’ rights in the digital environment, I am especially pleased that the European Parliament managed to strengthen the part on fair and just working conditions. There can be no doubt: workers' fundamental rights in the digital environment need to be respected.

In addition, the three institutions commit to high-quality digital education and training, high-quality connectivity with available Internet access, a digital environment where people are protected against harmful content, as well as fostering sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout global value chains of digital products and services.

I hope that the declaration will create more awareness about the rules in the digital world and will empower citizens to take full advantage of the opportunities the digital transition brings. It has a lot of potential to guide future legislation and should become a reference document for the future work of the EU on any digital topic.