Growth in the volume of world trade is expected to remain sluggish in 2016 at 2.8%, unchanged from the 2.8% increase registered in 2015. Imports of developed countries should moderate this year while demand for imported goods in developing Asian economies should pick up. Global trade growth should rise to 3.6% in 2017, WTO economists reported on 7 April.

The OECD report published on 5 April highlights Germany’s robust recovery and high levels of competitiveness since the global economic crisis. It also points out the wide range of challenges facing the country as it seeks to strengthen productivity, boost well-being in a rapidly ageing society and ensure the integration of newly-arrived migrants. Main findings and key recommendations include 1. integration of refugees and migrants to limit fiscal costs and improve their productivity, 2. strengthening investment and productivity, 3. addressing challenges posed by demographic change.

According to the recently published Eurostat data on enterprises' presence on the internet, 83% of Czech businesses have a website, compared with the EU-28 average of 75%. The use of social media by Czech enterprises is below the EU average, though.

The development of new digital technologies, behavioural patterns and business models is challenging the status quo and raising questions about how platforms function within the Digital Single Market. The European Commission is rightly emphasising the importance of this issue and collecting evidence as the basis for a comprehensive analysis of the role of online platforms within the Digital Single Market Strategy. We, the undersigned, ask that the Commission take the following into account when considering the development of policies and initiatives relating to digital platforms.