EU Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager and Commissioner Thierry Breton have unveiled a series of objectives to accelerate Europe's digital transformation and digital sovereignty: ‘European Digital Decade: 2030 Digital Targets’.  The proposal evolves around four main targets:

• Skills: ensure basic digital skills for 80% of adults and employ at least 20 million ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) specialists in the EU.
• Infrastructure: achieve 100% gigabit connectivity for all European households and a 100% 5G coverage in all populated areas. Develop the first quantum computer in Europe and deploy 10.000 climate neutral highly secure edge nodes.
• Businesses: ensure 75% of the enterprises have integrated cloud computing services, AI, and Big Data. Double the number of innovative start-ups and reach a basic level of digital intensity for 90% of SMEs.
• Public services: key services should be available online and all citizens will have access to electronic medical records. 80% citizens should use an electronic European ID.

The initiative sets out a common plan towards 2030 to boost the digital transformation of businesses and to empower European citizens. The targets will provide a digital compass for local, national and Europe-wide efforts and will provide an additional tool to ensure the European economic recovery truly delivers on the digital transition. 

“For us, making this digital decade a successful one means to become this prosperous, confident and open partner that we want to be in the world. And make sure that all of us fully benefit from the welfare brought by an inclusive digital society", Vestager said during the presentation of the initiative.

These targets are an important step towards delivering on the ALDE Party manifesto for Europe to embrace the potential of the technological and digital evolution and to reignite economic growth.

As Liberals, we believe that to harness the full potential of digitalisation, we need to increase investment in digital infrastructure and skills to strengthen our economy and equip our citizens and businesses with the tools to steer their own destiny in a digital society. With the most advanced industrial sector, Europe must identify the strategic efforts to boost our strengths and mitigate our weaknesses.

🇪🇺🧑🏽‍💻 I warmly welcome this initiative of @vestager & @ThierryBreton. These new targets will be clear light houses for everyone engaged in Europe's digital transition. As liberals, we will continue working hard at all levels to make them a reality. @ALDEParty https://t.co/yGxz9zVeB0

— Hans van Baalen (@hansvanbaalen) March 9, 2021

See more about ALDE Party’s vision in the 2019 Manifesto and the 'Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic' resolution.

We want a successful #DigitalDecade for all of us. Targets proposed to get there together. Basic digital skills for everyone, more digital experts, better connectivity, access to all public services online & twice as many unicorns: Our 2030 #DigitalEU More https://t.co/lKLFJJpv5d

— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) March 9, 2021

Timing is everything.

Launching today our 🇪🇺Digital #Compass 🧭 with ambitious & concrete targets for 2030:

✔️20+ million digital experts

✔️90% digitised #SMEs

✔️#Gigabit 4 everyone & #5G everywhere

✔️20% global shares in next-gen #microchips

✔️#Quantum accelerators pic.twitter.com/DIl5LmM4yk

— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) March 9, 2021