The Spanish union UGT, an affiliate of UNI Global Union, recently organized a meeting focused on digital technological sovereignty in Europe. The event gathered major figures from Spain’s information and communications technology sector, including José Alfredo Mesa, UGT Secretary of Communications and Culture; Antonio Oviedo, UGT-FeSMC General Secretary; and Antonio Hernando Vera, the Spanish Minister for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure. Also present were the CEOs of Spain’s four leading telecommunications companies: Borja Ochoa (Telefónica España), Meinrad Spenger (Más Orange), José Miguel García (Vodafone España), and Marius Vărzaru (Digi España).
During the event, José Alfredo Mesa criticized the current European regulatory framework for focusing mainly on cost reduction and increased competition. He stated: “We must monitor everything that impacts directly on employment, quality of life and future of workers, whether through regulation or political decisions.” Mesa also said: “Let’s be clear: Europe cannot continue to be technologically dependent on the United States and China,” noting that Europe once led in ICT standards with 2G and 3G.
Antonio Hernando Vera supported this view by highlighting the importance of workers in shaping company strategies. He remarked: “It is the people who work in companies that think of the strategies and implement them. Companies wouldn’t invest in Spain if it wasn’t for the great telecommunications networks in the country. The market has failures and regulations need to change, but in Spain they will be moderate compared to what is possible at European level.”
UGT-FeSMC General Secretary Antonio Oviedo closed the meeting by emphasizing job protection within telecommunications. He said: “We need to defend the jobs in the telecommunications sector. The current regulation is outdated, dating back to a time when broadband didn’t even exist and must be updated. Europe now must show its clear support for telecommunications companies.”
Benjamin Parton, Head of Department of UNI ICTS who attended the event, commented on regulatory needs across Europe: “We need a European regulatory framework in telecoms that protects consumers, but also jobs and working conditions. Promoting dignified work should be part of discussions on regulation of the European telecom market.”
