Introduction
The Digital Decade policy programme (also known as the “Digital Decade”), which entered into force on January 9, 2023, is a monitoring and cooperation mechanism of the European Commission. It is set up to achieve common targets for Europe's digital transformation by 2030. The European Parliament, the Member States and the Commission have thus jointly set concrete objectives and targets in the four key areas of digital skills, digital infrastructure including connectivity, the digital transition of businesses and online public services, in accordance with the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles.
The Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy (SMC) represents Luxembourg at the European level and coordinates the initiative through an interministerial working group at national level.
Targets and objectives of the digital decade
From its entry into force until 2030, the Member States of the European Union, in collaboration with the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission, will define their digital policies so as to achieve the following targets:
- improve citizens’ basic and advanced digital skills;
- increase the use by EU businesses, including small businesses, of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, data and cloud computing;
- advancing EU infrastructure for connectivity, computing and data; and
- make public services and administrations accessible online.
Together, the goals and targets of the Digital Decade will guide the actions of Member States towards a human-centered, sustainable and inclusive digital transition.
Monitoring progress made in achieving the targets set for 2030
In order to monitor progress in achieving the various targets, the Commission, in collaboration with Member States, has developed key performance indicators (KPIs). For their part, Member States will establish their national strategic roadmaps describing the policies, measures and actions that they plan to implement, at national level, to achieve the objectives and targets of the program.
From 2023, the Commission will annually publish its Digital Decade Progress Report, to take stock and provide an assessment of progress towards the targets and goals and make recommendations.
Multinational projects
To achieve the digital goals, the European Commission will accelerate and facilitate the launch of multi-national projects, i.e. large-scale projects that no single Member State could implement alone. These projects could:
- combine investments from the EU budget, Member States and the private sector;
- fill identified gaps in EU critical capabilities;
- support an interconnected, interoperable and secure digital single market.
The Commission has drawn up a first list of multinational projects, which relate in particular to the following areas of investment: data infrastructure, low-consumption processors, 5G communication, high-performance computing, secure quantum communication, public administration, blockchain, digital innovation centers and digital skills.