Halfway through the Digital Decade (see EUROPE 13213/18), on Monday 16 June the European Commission published its 2025 report on the state of the EU’s digital transformation.
More than an assessment, this third report provides a review with a view to launching the process of revising the Digital Decade Policy Programme (DDPP), scheduled for 2026.
The communication, which examines digital infrastructures, the digitalisation of businesses, digital skills and digital public services, provides a mixed picture.
The dematerialisation of public services and the implementation of national ‘roadmaps’, which together represent almost 2,000 measures and €288.6 billion of investment, have seen some progress.
Nevertheless, the level of digital skills is struggling, with only 55.6% of Europeans having a basic level. The target of 20 million information and communication technology (ICT) specialists by 2030 could be revised as part of the review of the DDPP, as the gap remains so wide.
Critical infrastructures (fibre, autonomous 5G, sovereign cloud, semiconductors) are also struggling to keep pace, while the market remains fragmented and dependence on non-European technologies is growing.
The Commission points out that if the EU were to achieve its digital targets by 2030, European GDP could increase by 1.8%.
It therefore calls for a multi-dimensional response, involving public investment and greater mobilisation of private capital, particularly in foundational technologies such as AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and quantum computing.
Finally, the Commission is calling for greater involvement of local authorities and accelerated administrative simplification, using digital tools.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and growing global technological competition, the digital transformation can no longer be seen as a mere negligible asset, but as an issue central to the EU’s competitiveness, security and resilience.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/hct (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)