Brussels, 26/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is continuing its slow progress towards a digital economy, according to the 2016 edition of the Digital Economy and Social Index (DESI), published on Thursday 25 February. The overall score for the EU is 0.52 out of 1, an improvement from 0.5 last year.
The most digitally advanced states heading the table are Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden, while Greece, Romania and Bulgaria bring up the rear.
The DESI, which reports on 2015 figures, shows that, with the exception of Sweden, all member states have improved their scores in areas such as connectivity, digital skills and online public services. Progress is more limited, however, on broadband internet, cross-border e-commerce and cross-border online administration services. The issue of skills also gives cause for concern: almost half of all Europeans (45%) do not have basic digital skills (using a mailbox, editing tools or installing new devices). “The EU makes progress, but too slowly. There is no room for complacency. Action is needed if we want to catch up with Japan, the USA and South Korea”, said Digital Economy and Society Commissioner Günther Oettinger, at the presentation of the findings at the Digital4Europe conference.
Overall, the Netherlands, Estonia, Germany, Malta, Austria and Portugal are the countries that have made the fastest progress and the best results. At the other end of the scale, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, France, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia fall into the category of laggards, that is, their progress was slower than the EU average. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)