On March 9, 2021, the European Commission presented a digital compass for change in Europe. The vision for Europe’s Digital Decade revolves around four key points: Skills, Infrastructure, Public Services and Business. Secure and sustainable digital infrastructure ensures end-to-end connectivity in the EU: by 2030, all households in the EU should have a gigabit connection and all populated areas should be covered by 5G networks.
The European Commission has presented a vision, targets and pathways for Europe’s digital transformation by 2030: a digital compass for Europe’s Digital Decade. The EU wants to pursue a digital policy that empowers people and businesses so that they can take full advantage of the opportunities of a sustainable digital future. Europe’s digital compass revolves around the following goals:
- Digitally empowered citizens and highly skilled digital professionals: By 2030, at least 80 % of all adults should have basic digital skills and the EU should employ 20 million ICT professionals. At the same time, more women should work in this field.
- Secure, powerful and sustainable digital infrastructures: By 2030, all households in the EU should have a gigabit connection and all populated areas should be covered by 5G networks. 20 % of the world’s cutting-edge and sustainable semiconductors should be manufactured in Europe and production should be doubled for this purpose. 10 000 climate-neutral, highly secure data centers should be built in the EU and Europe should have its first quantum computer.
- Digital transformation of companies: By 2030, three out of four companies should be using cloud computing services, “big data” and artificial intelligence. Over 90 % of SMEs should achieve at least a basic level of digital intensity and the number of so-called start-up unicorns (start-ups with a value of more than 1 billion euros) in the EU should have doubled.
- Digitisation of public services: By 2030, all key public services should be available online. All citizens will have access to their electronic patient records and 80 % of them should use an eID solution.
The objectives will be anchored in a programme of measures to be agreed with the European Parliament and the Council. The Commission will soon launch a broad discussion and consultation process with the participation of citizens on the EU’s vision and digital principles. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The pandemic has shown how important digital technologies and skills are for working, learning and participating in life – and where we need to do even better.”
Further links:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/europes-digital-decade-digital-targets-2030_de
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/de/IP_21_983