The European Parliament adopted by 522 votes to 29, with 25 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the 2030 Policy Programme ‘Path to the Digital Decade’.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, amending the proposal as follows:

Subject

This Decision establishes the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 and sets out a monitoring and cooperation mechanism for that programme designated to:

- creating an environment favourable to innovation and investment by setting a clear direction for the digital transformation of the Union and for the delivery of digital targets at Union level by 2030, on the basis of measurable indicators;

- structuring and stimulating cooperation between the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Member States;

- fostering the consistency, comparability, transparency and completeness of monitoring and reporting by the Union.

General objectives

The European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Member States should cooperate to support and achieve the following general objectives at Union level:

- promoting a human-centred, fundamental-rights-based, inclusive, transparent and open digital environment where secure and interoperable digital technologies and services observe and enhance Union principles, rights and values and are accessible to all, everywhere in the Union;

- reinforcing Member States’ collective resilience and bridging the digital divide , achieving gender and geographic balance, developing basic and advanced digital skills and competencies, fostering the development of high-performing digital capacities within horizontal education and training systems;

- ensuring the Union’s digital sovereignty in an open manner, in particular by secure and accessible digital and data infrastructures capable of efficiently storing, transmitting and processing vast volumes of data that enable other technological developments, supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of the Union’s industry and economy, in particular of SMEs, and the resilience of the Union’s value chains, as well as fostering the start-up ecosystem and the smooth functioning of the European digital innovation hubs;

- promoting the deployment and the use of digital capabilities with a view to reducing the geographical digital divide and granting access to digital technologies and data on open, accessible and fair terms;

- developing a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem of interoperable digital infrastructures , where high performance, edge, cloud, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, data management and network connectivity work in convergence;

- promoting a Union digital regulatory environment to support the ability of Union undertakings, especially that of SMEs, to compete fairly along global value chains;

- ensuring that online participation in democratic life is possible for everyone, and that public services, health and care services are also accessible in a trusted and secure online environment for everyone, in particular for disadvantaged groups;

- ensuring that digital infrastructure and technologies, including their supply chains, become more sustainable, resilient , and energy- and resource-efficient, with a view to minimising their negative environmental and social impact;

- improving resilience to cyberattacks .

Digital targets

The following digital targets should be reached in the Union by 2030:

- at least 80 % of those aged 16-74 have at least basic digital skills;

- at least 20 million ICT specialists are employed within the Union, while promoting the access of women to this field and increasing the number of ICT graduates;

- all end users at a fixed location are covered by a gigabit network up to the network termination point, and all populated areas are covered by next-generation wireless high-speed networks with performance at least equivalent to that of 5G, in accordance with the principle of technological neutrality;

- the production, in accordance with Union law on environmental sustainability, of cutting-edge semiconductors in the Union is at least 20 % of world production in value;

- at least 75 % of Union enterprises have taken up one or more of the following, in line with their business operations;

- there is 100 % online accessible provision of key public services and 100 % of Union citizens have access to secure electronic identification (eID) means that are recognised throughout the Union, enabling them to have full control over identity transactions and shared personal data.

National strategic roadmaps

No later than nine months after the date of entry into force of the Decision, each Member State should submit its national roadmap to the Commission. Regional roadmaps may be developed.

The roadmaps should be drafted after consultation with key stakeholders, such as business organisations, including SME representatives, social partners and civil society, including older people and youth, as well as local and regional representatives, and should be a key tool for coordinating Member States' policies and ensuring predictability for the market.

Mechanisms for cooperation between the Commission and the Member States

The Commission and the Member States should cooperate closely to identify ways to address shortcomings in areas where progress towards one or more of the digital targets is regarded to be insufficient by the Commission and the Member States. In the event of significant deviation from the national target paths, the Commission or the Member State concerned may enter into a structured dialogue with each other.

The Commission should consult in a timely, transparent and regular manner with private and public stakeholders, including representatives of SMEs, social partners and civil society, in order to gather information and develop policies, measures and recommended actions for the implementation of this Decision.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Martina DLABAJOVÁ (Renew, CZ) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the 2030 Policy Programme ‘Path to the Digital Decade’.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure be amended as follows:

Subject matter

This Decision establishes a Policy Programme ‘Path to the Digital Decade’ and sets out a monitoring and cooperation mechanism for that programme consisting of measures to:

(a) set a clear direction for the digital transformation of the Union and for delivery of the digital targets by 2030 based on measurable indicators;

(b) structure and stimulate cooperation between the Union institutions and Member States;

(c) ensure the consistency, comparability, transparency and completeness of the monitoring and reporting by the Union.

General objectives

The Union institutions and the Member States should cooperate to support and achieve the following general objectives:

- promote a human-centred, inclusive, ethical, secure, open, transparent and interoperable digital environment where digital technologies and services respect and enhance Union principles, rights and values;

- bridge the digital divides by promoting continuous opportunities for each individual, to develop basic and advanced digital skills and competencies as well as by fostering the development of horizontal high-performing digital education and training systems through vocational and professional training, reskilling, upskilling and lifelong learning;

- ensure the Union’s digital, open strategic autonomy , in particular by a secure and accessible digital and data infrastructures, supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of the Union’s industry and economy, in particular of SMEs, and the resilience of the Union’s value chains;

- reduce the geographical digital divide and giving access to digital technologies and data on open, accessible and fair terms, while ensuring the protection of fundamental rights including security;

- develop a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem of interoperable digital infrastructures where high performance, edge, cloud, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, data management and network connectivity work in convergence, to promote their uptake in the Union businesses, to create opportunities for growth and jobs through research, development and innovation;

- promote the development of regulatory standards to ensure that Union undertakings, especially SMEs, can compete fairly along global value chains;

- improve resilience to cyberattacks.

A technology-neutral approach to connectivity is a principle that should guide national and EU digital policies.

Digital targets

In particular, the following digital targets should be achieved in the EU by 2030:

- a digitally skilled population and highly skilled digital professionals : (i) at least 80% of people aged 16-74 have at least basic digital skills; (b) at least 20 million information and communication technology (ICT) specialists are employed in the EU, promoting women's access to the sector;

- sustainable, secure and efficient digital infrastructure : (i) all European households, business premises and educational institutions are covered by a gigabit network, reaching the last segment, right up to the end-user device, with all populated areas covered by next-generation broadband networks; (ii) by 2030, the EU has a competitive and sustainable cloud data infrastructure with high standards of security and privacy, and respecting EU data protection rules;

- digital transformation of enterprises : at least 75% of EU enterprises have adopted one or more of the following, depending on their business activities: (i) cloud computing services; (ii) big data; (iii) artificial intelligence;

- digitalisation of public services : 100% of EU citizens have access to a secure digital identification (ID) solution recognised throughout the EU, giving users full control over their personal data.

National strategic roadmaps for the digital decade

The roadmaps should be drafted after consultation with key stakeholders , such as business organisations, including SME representatives, social partners and civil society, including the elderly and young people, as well as local and regional representatives, and should be a crucial tool for coordinating Member States' policies and ensuring predictability for the market.

Transparency and public participation

The Commission should cooperate closely with stakeholders, including private and public actors, such as statutory bodies in the education or health sector, and consult them on measures to accelerate the digital transformation at EU level.

When consulting stakeholders, it would be necessary to be as inclusive as possible and to involve those bodies that are key to promoting the participation of girls and women in digital education and career paths, with the aim of promoting the most gender-balanced approach possible when implementing national strategic roadmaps.

PURPOSE: to establish the 2030 Policy Programme ‘Path to the Digital Decade’.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: digital skills, basic and advanced, are essential to reinforce the collective resilience of the EU’s society. Digital progress in the Member States has been very uneven in the last years. The trend shows that the countries progressing at a slow pace five years ago, have continued to progress slowly until now.

Building on the 2030 Digital Compass , in which the Commission laid out the vision for a successful digital transformation of Europe's economy and society by the end of the decade, the Commission now introduces a robust governance framework to reach the digital targets in the form of a Path to the Digital Decade. The path seeks to ensure that the EU achieves its objectives and targets towards a digital transformation of society and economy in line with the EU´s values, reinforcing our digital leadership and promoting human centred, inclusive and sustainable digital policies empowering citizens and businesses.

With this new Path to the Digital Decade, there will be structured cooperation to work collectively towards the agreed objectives, while recognising different starting points among Member States.

CONTENT: this draft Decision proposed by the Commission establishes a Policy Programme ‘Path to the Digital Decade’ and sets out a monitoring and cooperation mechanism for that programme consisting of measures to:

- set a clear direction for the digital transformation of the Union and for delivery of the digital targets;

- structure and stimulate cooperation between the Union institutions and Member States;

- ensure the consistency, comparability and completeness of the monitoring and reporting by the Union.

The proposed Decision also establishes a framework for multi-country projects.

Targets

The proposed Decision lists common digital targets along four cardinal points (digital skills, digital infrastructures, digitalisation of businesses and of public services) to translate the EU’s ambition for a successfully digitalised Union by 2030 into common concrete objectives.

Cooperation

Specifically, the Commission proposes to engage in an annual cooperation mechanism with Member States that will 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; including key performance indicators (KPIs);

- an annual report on the ‘State of the Digital Decade', in which the Commission will evaluate progress and provide recommendations for actions;

- multiannual digital decade strategic roadmaps for each Member State, in which they will outline adopted or planned policies and measures in support of the 2030 targets;

- a structured annual framework to discuss and address areas of insufficient progress through recommendations and joint commitments between the Commission and the Member States;

- a mechanism to support the implementation of multi-country projects.

Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI)

The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) should become a part of the report on the state of the Digital Decade and should be used to monitor the progress towards the digital targets. This monitoring should include an analysis of the indicators measuring progress at Member States’ level, national policies and initiatives aimed at reaching the objectives of this draft Decision. For each digital target, key performance indicators (‘KPIs) should be set out in implementing acts to be adopted by the Commission.

Multi-country projects

The Policy Programme ‘Path to the Digital Decade’ also foresees a mechanism for a legal structure enabling the swift and flexible set-up and implementation of multi-country projects, in particular for the deployment across countries of large-scale digital infrastructures and/or services. These large-scale projects would contribute to achieving the targets for Europe's digital transformation by 2030 - projects that no single Member State could develop on its own. Such projects will allow Member States to come together and pool resources to build digital capacities in areas that are fundamental for enhancing Europe's digital sovereignty and for fuelling Europe's recovery.

The Commission has identified an initial list of multi-country projects, which includes several areas for investment: data infrastructure, low-power processors, 5G communication, high-performance computing, secure quantum communication, public administration, blockchain, digital innovation hubs, and investing in people's digital skills.

Reports

The proposal entails the monitoring and reporting on digital progress which will be presented in an annual report on the ‘State of the Digital Decade’, to be submitted to the Parliament and Council. On that occasion, the Commission would share its strategic assessment of the EU’s digital transformation with Council and Parliament and would provide recommended actions and measures to Member States or discuss joint commitments undertaken between the Commission and the Member States.

Review

Lastly, the Commission proposes that the targets are to be reviewed by the Commission by June 2026 to take account of technological, economic and societal developments.