Freshly uploaded EU digi-Czar is CLUELESS ON TECH but it's no big deal, says Steelie Neelie

It doesn’t matter that the incoming EU Commissioner for all things digital doesn’t really understand technology, so says Europe's current digi commish Neelie Kroes.

Günther H.* Oettinger, the man set to take over Steelie Neelie's role in November, is not renowned for being particularly up on Web2.0, with a marked lack of interest in social media.

His team has only recently started tweeting on a regular basis … 192 tweets in total at time of writing. But Oettinger, who is currently energy commissioner, has been quick to suck up to his predecessor saying “Thanks @NeelieKroesEU, #ff back - for the great work you did for a @DigitalAgendaEU!”.

Kroes, when asked whether Oettinger's technophobia would have an impact on his ability to do the job as digital economy and society commissioner, said: “No absolutely, not”.

“You really need great people around you and to communicate with the outside world,” she added. “He should get a lot of advice and information from those people who are in the know.”

Oettinger will not be alone in tackling the Commission’s "Digital Agenda". He will report to former Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, who takes on a new vice president role. Kroes described the new Commission set-up as “challenging” and said it would put more emphasis on dialogue.

The most important issues for the pair to tackle in coming years is internet security, according to Kroes.

“There is already a proposal, but this is only a first stage and needs to be followed up,” she said, adding that she is keen to finalise the telecoms single market package before the end of her term. ®

* Word was sent from on high to new Commission underlings that the "H" must be included, with dot.