This article originally appeared on eBayInc.com. Written by Paul Todd, Senior Vice President of eBay in Europe.

Maria Gabriella and Vincenzo’s story inspires me.

Through wanting to build a business they could work together on, combining Maria Gabriella’s language and Vincenzo’s computer skills, Prodotti Tipici was born. “My wife and I wanted a business we could manage from an office in our home, allowing us to balance our family and work lives”, explains Vincenzo.

eBay Public Policy Lab’s Sassoon Grigorian presents at the “Rethinking the Digital Economy” forum

Globally, there are now more connected devices than the number of people in the world. Yet this connectivity is not equal throughout the world.

eBay Public Policy Lab’s Sassoon Grigorian and U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN Nina Hachigian

Yesterday, eBay Global Public Policy Lab Executive Director Brian Bieron testified before the House Small Business committee’s hearing titled, “Across Town, Across Oceans: Expanding the Role of Small Business in Global Commerce.” This hearing examined the ongoing trade negotiations and the impact of U.S. trade policy on small businesses. As an industry expert on international trade, Brian was able to offer valuable insight on barriers that small businesses face when it comes to selling products overseas.

Today, the European Commission launched its strategy to create a Digital Single Market for Europe. eBay welcomes this important initiative aimed at realizing the full potential of the EU's internal market in the digital economy.

Devastation in Nepal continues to intensify in the wake of the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Saturday, April 25^th. Reports from the Himalayan nation cite more than 5,000 people dead, more than 9,000 injured, and millions more affected across the nation. 

This week the eBay Policy Lab team presented on the topic “Global Trade Flows in the Digital Age: The New Spice Routes” at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. The presentation focused on the fact that innovations in digital commerce and payments have broken down barriers to entry and opened global markets for small businesses across Asia. These small businesses have been dubbed the new “

Members of Parliament (left to right):  Dr. Jens Zimmermann, Dr. Joachim Pfeiffer, Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker, Renate Künast, Florian Rentsch, Dr. Wolfgang Stefinger, Markus Koob, Matthias Ilgen

This week eBay joined Ecommerce Europe as one of its newest business partners. Ecommerce Europe was founded by leading national e-commerce associations across Europe and represents 25,000+ companies selling products and/or services online to consumers in Europe. The group’s mission is to advance the interests and influence of European e-commerce through advocacy, communication and networking.

In October 2014, Hanne Melin of eBay Inc. Public Policy Lab debated stakeholder involvement in policymaking at the European Health Forum Gastein.