A STRONGER DIGITAL EUROPE – our call to action towards 2025

We need the European Union more than ever! The new European political leadership taking office this year stands in front of a great opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the European project, and to bring Europe to the forefront of the emerging global digital era.

There is an urgent need for political leadership breaking down national silos and sustaining European values and prosperity in a global digitalised economy.

It is time to embrace the changes of digitalisation and globalisation with a clear vision and responsible leadership.“What do we want and how do we get there?”

Together we will strive for a Europe where digital technologies, innovation and artificial intelligence can provide Europe’s people with competitive jobs, better health and better public services. A strong unfragmented DIGITAL EUROPE that takes leadership in creating digital Inclusion, Green growth, Innovation, Trust, Agile mission-based policy making that drives prosperity and creates benefits for European society and leads globally in an open economy.

As decision-makers from industry and politics we have a pervasive impact on people’s lives. It is our common responsibility, together with other stakeholders, such as unions to “level-up” European society so citizens and the market are ready for a sustainable, prosperous and STRONGER DIGITAL EUROPE. This is DIGITALEUROPE’s call to action.

Our DIGITAL EUROPE Vision 2025 is:

A Europe where digital technologies, innovation and artificial intelligence can provide Europe’s people with competitive jobs, better health and better public services.A strong unfragmented DIGITAL EUROPE that takes leadership in creating digital Inclusion, Green growth, Innovation, Trust, Agile mission-based policy making that drives prosperity and creates benefits for European society and leads globally in an open economy.

For a sustainable, prosperous and stronger DIGITAL EUROPE, we believe that there are 7 key areas of impact that should be addressed by all decision-makers from industry as well as government leaders and public sector institutions:

Digital Single Market

To generate growth and remain competitive in the global digital era, Europe must consolidate its Single Market and address fragmentation. Read more

Inclusion

Fear of technological development should be transformed into opportunities by equipping Europeans with the right set of digital skills. Read more

Green growth

Europe must leverage digital technologies to build a sustainable, low-carbon, and resource-efficient economy and society. Read more

Innovation

Europe must invest in the take-up of digital technologies such as AI and 5G, supporting the creation of cross sectorial innovative ecosystems in sectors where Europe has a competitive advantage. Read more

Trust

Government and industry must cooperate globally to strengthen cybersecurity and protect citizens’ privacy while enabling data flows. Read more

Agile & mission-based policy

Europe must define clear goals for policies and drive agile policy-making processes based on multi-stakeholder engagement and experimentation through regulatory sandboxing. Read more

Leadership

European leaders must define ‘what they want’and set a clear vision and goals for how digitalisation can improve European society based on common values. Read more

The future of Europe is DIGITAL.

Success indicators

To measure Europe’s success in navigating the digital transformation, we have identified 22 success indicators. At DIGITALEUROPE we believe that these metrics take the pulse of the European digital transformation that brings benefits to society at large. These indicators will evolve over time and be reviewed on a yearly basis.

1. An inclusive and social Europe that promotes participation and builds trust

Enhance digital development to drive social inclusion

Digital transformation has the power to reduce inequalities across Europe. But doing so relies on empowering everyone – irrespective of their income, education, age or gender – and it requires harmonised action and greater collaboration across all players.

1. Implement efficiently the European Accessibility Act
2. Encourage more women to engage in the tech sector and foster greater diversity

Create the jobs and skills of the future

The digital skills gap slows down Europe’s growth and hampers competitiveness and innovation capacity. Unemployment remains high in the EU while there is an expectation of 900 000 unfilled positions requiring digital skills in the EU by 2020.

1. Provide state aid exemptions for SMEs investing in digital skills training for employees
2. Strengthen the digital sector contribution in the modernisation of education curricula
3. Enhance digital skills forecasts for better policy accuracy and digital labour market relevance
4. Provide work contract flexibility to promote EU skills mobility

Provide a digital environment that enhances trust, privacy and security

Trust is fundamentally important as it is the glue that holds relationships together and is a basic prerequisite for a well-functioning and participatory democracy. While digital technologies do raise new challenges, they also present great opportunities to increase trust.

1. Make GDPR implementation fit for technological change
2. Support a pan-European network of GDPR Codes of Conduct for SMEs
3. Ensure changes to ePrivacy law improve trust in a fast-changing technological environment
4. Continue efforts to strengthen cybersecurity
5. Promote cybersecurity norms of behaviour
6. Boost consumer trust by ensuring better and more effective enforcement of consumer rules
7. Improve consumers’ access to justice in the EU
8. Conclude an EU-US bilateral accord for e-evidence

2. An innovative and sustainable Europe that brings benefits to society at large and invests in future generations

Build a framework for a sustainable Europe that leverages the potential of digital technologies

To transform the European economy and generate new and sustainable competitive advantages for Europe, the European Union is transitioning to a low-carbon, more resource-efficient, circular economy. This transition is not only an opportunity for businesses and citizens, it is also a necessity from an environmental, economic and social perspective to move towards a more productive, higher added value and more sustainable economy.

1. Invest in a truly circular single market and accelerate the deployment of digital solutions
2. Promote the use of digital technologies as enabler for sustainable development
3. Stimulate decarbonisation of industry and leverage the digitalisation potential

Boost digital infrastructure to enhance connectivity

Citizens and businesses rely more and more on fast internet for accessing, consuming and sharing content and information. With this growing need for high capacity broadband connections, which are key for both economic development and social inclusion, an appropriate and solid regulatory framework is also needed in order to create economies of scale, to facilitate investment, and to stimulate timely deployment of new fixed and wireless networks.

1. Stimulate investment in digital infrastructure
2. Ensure a 5G-ready spectrum and connectivity environment

Enhance innovation and the adoption of emerging technologies (AI, IoT, etc.)

Innovative digital technologies can provide Europe’s people with competitive jobs, better health and better public services. However, in order to reap the potential of these technologies and to position Europe as a global leader, access to capital and strategic investments in innovation are crucial.

1. Make the industry a key advisor for the implementation of Horizon Europe
2. Pave the way for the next Digital Europe programme

Accelerate the digital transformation for the manufacturing sector

Europe has a good chance to be a world leader in Digital Manufacturing. Europe currently has the highest concentration of robots increasing quality and delivering products efficiently.  It is also an industry that uses innovative and clean technology that will greatly improve the sustainable transformation of the manufacturing sector.

1. Define a clear action plan involving all stakeholders on reskilling and upskilling its workforce to embrace digital production processes
2. Drive mission-based digital innovation policies focused on Digital Manufacturing
3. Create an agreement for the free flow of data
4. Deliver the promised funding levels of the Digital and Horizon Europe Programmes
5. Accelerate sustainability through industrial technology

3. A strong and united Europe that reflects European values and thrives globally in an open economy

Build a strong European Union by strengthening the Single Market without regulatory fragmentation

The creation of the European Single Market is one of the most ambitious European projects and a pillar of the European Union. Today the Single Market for products is arguably the most open and accessible marketplace in the world.

1. Revise the New Legislative Framework and ensure effective Market Surveillance
2. Safeguard the unique European Standardisation system (Harmonised Standards)
3. Achieve a real single market for audiovisual products and services
4. Realise the full potential of standardisation
5. Support global standards and specifications
6. Modernise the private copying levies framework

Promote digital leadership in public sector services across the EU

Existing and emerging technologies will play a critical role in the public sector. They will reduce administrative burdens and waste, accelerate efficiencies, and most importantly provide important solutions to societal challenges.

1. Promote secure public procurement
2. Ensure access to the free flow of health data to provide patient-centric care
3. Provide innovative policy and regulatory approaches for innovative digital health solutions

Push for fair global competition and boost European competitiveness

Global trade is essential for Europe’s growth, jobs and competitiveness. ICT is global by default and enables global value chains for every sector of the economy. A stable, predictable and open global economy is therefore crucial.

1. Promote open markets and foster fair competition
2. Protect innovators within and outside the European borders
3. Take leadership and set up the digital ‘standard’ in trade agreements
4. Ensure Trade Facilitation Measures
5. Negotiate a comprehensive, global, long-term tax solution