Queen Máxima and European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager discuss digital public goods
On Wednesday 28 September, Her Majesty Queen Máxima will meet in Brussels with European Commissioner and Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager. They will discuss the importance of digital public goods for improving access to and ensuring secure use of digital financial services. The Commissioner has the digital transition in her portfolio. Queen Máxima is the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA).
In her role as UNSGSA, Queen Máxima works to give people a better future by helping them access secure and affordable digital financial services. The basis for services such as bank and savings accounts, insurance, loans, pensions and digital payment methods is formed by digital public goods. These include digital identity cards for opening an account, good telecom connections, data privacy and interoperable payment systems for digital banking. The meeting with Commissioner Vestager will cover the European Commission’s role in developing regulations for digital public goods that optimise access to and use of financial services for all.
According to the latest figures from the World Bank Group, 76% of adults worldwide now have a bank account (Global Findex Database 2021). Digital public goods are important when it comes to connecting the missing 24%, especially people on low incomes, women and small businesses, including smallholder farmers. Not only governments but also the private sector is involved in developing digital public goods.
Government Information Service, no. 254