16/03/2021 (Agence Europe) – The EU Council formally adopted on Tuesday 16 March, by written procedure, its position at first reading on the Digital Europe programme, following the informal agreement reached between the three EU institutions at the end of 2020 (see EUROPE 12622/2). It now remains for the European Parliament to adopt its position at second reading before the regulation is published in the Official Journal of the European Union. With a considerable budget of €7,588 million, the programme will cover the period 2021-2027, with retroactive effect from 1 January. This programme is intended to foster the large-scale deployment of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and the latest cybersecurity tools, during the period 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12305/5). (SPj)