What is Europe’s Digital Decade? Shaping the European Digital Future (2022)

25th May 2022

The future will be digital and green. At least that is the ambition of Europe through the European Green Deal that is now a top European priority.

The so-called twin transition describes the potential of the digital transformation as a prerequisite for achieving the European Green Deal Objectives. Thus, we are talking about the European digital decade, a crucial milestone in Europe’s digital transformation with important digital targets for 2030.

What is the digital compass for the digital decade, and what are its main points? Moreover, what is digital citizenship, and how does Europe plans to claim its digital future? Let’s find out.

A digital compass for the EU digital decade

 

The digital compass will be the guide of Europe during the Digital Decade to achieve the digital targets by 2030. The four axes of the compass show the main areas that the digital transformation will focus on in the following years.

  1. Skills – Digital transformation in Europe requires advanced digital skills and at least some basic digital skills to support it. For this reason, digital skills are a primary objective for the digital decade aiming at training at least 20 million ICT specialists with a particular focus on attracting more women to the sectors. Additionally, a secondary aim is for at least 80% of the EU population to have some basic digital skills.
  2. Business – Traditional businesses are prime areas for digital transformation that come with many benefits. The digital targets for businesses are to have at least 75% of EU companies uptake digital technologies like cloud, Artificial Intelligence, or big data. Furthermore, the EU will support European innovators to create the next EU made unicorns and make sure that 90% of European SMEs use technology at least at a basic level.
  3. Infrastructures – Secure and sustainable digital infrastructures are integral for the digital transformation in Europe. The digital targets for this decade regarding infrastructure want to increase the internet connectivity for everyone while making 5G a widespread technology. Additionally, Europe will try to double the EU’s share in the global production of semiconductors, set up 10,000 climate-neutral, highly secure edge nodes, and create the first computer with quantum acceleration.
  4. Government – European citizens, should be able to tap digitalization’s advantages in the sector. For this, coming out of this digital decade in 2030, 100% of the key public services should be online. All European citizens should have access to their medical records online, and about 80% of Europeans to be using a digital ID.

The rights and principles for digital citizenship

Our personal and professional lives are becoming more and more digital. The EU sees that and understands the need to develop rights and principles for the digital decade to accompany the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. These digital rights will be the point of reference for citizens and the guide in dealing with new tech for the EU Member States and Businesses to get the most out of the digital transformation.

On 26 January 2022, the Commission proposed the following declaration on digital rights and principles:

  1. Putting people and their rights at the center of the digital transformation
  2. Supporting solidarity and inclusion
  3. Ensuring freedom of choice online
  4. Fostering participation in the digital public space
  5. Increasing safety, security, and empowerment of individuals
  6. Promoting the sustainability of the digital future

The path to the Digital Decade

The Path to the Digital Decade is the policy document for establishing the 2030 Policy Programme to determine Europe’s digital future. But, except from detailing the 2030 Digital Decade objectives with the digital compass, this document also proposes establishing a governance framework that will ensure Europe reaches its digital targets by 2030.

For this to happen, an annual cooperation mechanism between the Commission and the EU Member States needs to be in place, as cooperation is integral in reaching the digital decade targets at the EU level. What is expected from this cooperation are the national strategic roadmaps that will put in detail the way to attain the digital targets.

The proposed cooperation mechanism would consist of:

  • a structured, transparent and shared monitoring system based on the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) to measure progress towards each of the 2030 targets;

  • an annual ‘Report on the state of the Digital Decade’ in which the Commission evaluates progress and provides recommendations for actions;
  • multiannual digital decade strategic roadmaps in which the Member States outline adopted or planned policies and measures in support of the 2030 targets;
  • a structured framework to discuss and address areas of insufficient progress through joint commitments between the Commission and the Member States;
  • a mechanism to support the implementation of multi-country projects.

    • Conclusion

    Are you ready for an exciting Digital Decade that will open many funding opportunities for digital transformation? The targets set in the digital compass show that Europe is seriously committed to making Europe more digital, as its digitalization is fundamental to a more sustainable and inclusive future.

    If you are interested in funding for the digital transformation, have a look at these open calls from a variety of EU programmes:

    1. Fast Track Innovation and Uptake U-space and Urban Air Mobility – Deadline: 13/10/2022
    2. Innovation investments Strand 1 - DIGIT - I3-2021-INV1-DIGIT – Deadline: 18/10/2022
    3. Innovation investments Strand 2a - DIGIT - I3-2021-INV2a-DIGIT – Deadline: 18/10/2022
    4. SmartAgriHubs - SERVICE the SmartAgriHubs Community Network – Deadline: 29/06/2022
    5. Digital Transformation and Green Economy Thematic Call – Deadline: 31/10/2022
    6. Space for Tourism – Deadline: 31/03/2022