Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030
European Union · Regulation · European Parliament and Council of the European Union
Our summary
This decision establishes a policy framework to guide the European Union's digital transformation by 2030, with targets across four key areas: digital skills, digital infrastructure, business digitalisation, and public services digitalisation. It applies to all member states and aims to strengthen digital sovereignty, ensure universal connectivity, promote digital skills development, and support multi-country digital projects that address strategic dependencies.
Written by the Index in our own words. It is not legal advice; the official text is the authority.
Inside this policy
Every section of this policy in order. Our notes summarise each one in plain language and do not quote the official text, which is the authority.
Drafted by the Index An automated summary of the official text, not yet reviewed by a person.Reviewed Checked by a person against the official text.
24 sections
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Article 1 Subject matter
This decision creates the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 with a mechanism to monitor progress and foster cooperation among EU institutions and Member States. It aims to promote innovation and investment through clear digital transformation targets measurable by 2030, encourage coordination between institutions, and ensure consistent monitoring and reporting across the Union. The decision also establishes a framework for large-scale multi-country projects.
Article 2 Definitions
Defines terms used in this Decision including DESI (annual performance monitoring tool), multi-country projects (large-scale initiatives to achieve digital targets), statistics, peer review process (Member State exchange of policy best practices), projected trajectory (path toward 2030 targets), edge nodes (distributed data processing at network endpoints), digital intensity (aggregated technology use measure), key public services (essential services to persons and legal entities), advanced digital skills (knowledge and competencies for digital technologies), basic digital skill (ability to perform one activity in information, communication, content creation, safety or problem-solving by digital means), and unicorn (undertaking founded after 1990 with initial public offering or trade sale over USD 1 billion, or valued at over USD 1 billion in last private venture funding round).
Article 3 General objectives of the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030
Sets ten general objectives for the Digital Decade Policy Programme covering: human-centred digital environment respecting Union principles and rights; bridging digital divide through skills development and resilience; ensuring digital sovereignty through secure, open infrastructures supporting industry competitiveness and value chain resilience; deploying digital capabilities to reduce geographic divide and increase innovation in enterprises; developing interoperable digital ecosystem covering cloud, edge, quantum computing and AI with competitive, secure data infrastructure; supporting fair competition for Union undertakings; ensuring democratic participation and accessible public, health and care services in trusted online environments; and making digital infrastructure sustainable and resilient.
Article 4 Digital targets
Establishes specific measurable targets for 2030 across four areas: digitally skilled population with 80% of those aged 16-74 having basic digital skills and 20 million ICT specialists employed; secure digital infrastructures including gigabit network coverage, 20% of semiconductor production in Union, 10,000 climate-neutral edge nodes, and quantum computing capabilities by 2025; digital transformation of businesses with 75% adopting cloud, big data or AI, 90% of SMEs reaching basic digital intensity, and doubled unicorn numbers; and public service digitalisation with 100% online key services, electronic health records access, and secure eID recognition. The Commission shall review targets and definitions by 30 June 2026 and submit report and legislative proposal if needed.
Article 5 Monitoring of progress
The Commission shall monitor Union progress towards the objectives and targets using DESI indicators and key performance indicators established through implementing acts. Member States must supply timely statistics and data disaggregated by gender and region, and the Commission may use alternative methods such as surveys if national data is unavailable. The Commission shall establish projected trajectories in cooperation with Member States to guide monitoring and inform national strategic roadmaps, and shall report updates to EU institutions as needed.
Article 6 Report on the state of the Digital Decade
The Commission must annually report to Parliament and Council on digital transformation progress and key performance indicators in the Digital Economy and Society Index compared to targets and trajectories. The Commission shall identify significant gaps and recommend policies and actions for Member States where progress is insufficient, addressing ambition levels, national measures, roadmap adjustments, and consistency of policies.
Article 7 National digital decade strategic roadmaps
Each Member State must submit a national roadmap by October 2023 describing adopted and planned policies, projected achievements of digital targets, and resource estimates, while considering regional dimensions and European Semester recommendations. The Commission shall provide guidance to Member States on preparing these roadmaps and setting appropriate national projected trajectories.
Article 8 Cooperation mechanisms between the Commission and the Member States
The Commission and Member States must work together to address insufficient progress on digital targets, with Member States submitting updated national roadmaps within 5 months of the second Report and every two years thereafter or explaining why no updates are needed; they may make joint commitments, consult on policies, establish multi-country projects with at least three Member States, or request peer reviews. If a Member State deviates significantly or continuously from projected progress, either the Commission or that Member State may start a structured dialogue to analyze how the deviation affects collective goals and adjust the Member State's roadmap, resulting in mutually agreed conclusions guiding follow-up actions. The Commission must inform the European Parliament and Council about any such dialogue and its outcomes.
Article 9 Consultation of stakeholders
The Commission shall regularly consult and publish the outcomes from private and public stakeholders including SMEs, social partners and civil society to develop recommended policies. Member States shall similarly consult stakeholders when adopting their national roadmaps and adjustments in accordance with national law.
Article 10 Multi-country projects
Multi-country projects involving at least three Member States aim to strengthen technological excellence, address supply chain vulnerabilities, promote safe digital solutions, support inclusive digital transformation, and enhance digital skills. Such projects may be recommended by the Commission or undertaken as joint commitments and may be implemented through various mechanisms including joint undertakings and European Research Infrastructure Consortia.
Article 11 Selection and implementation of multi-country projects
The Commission shall publish strategic principles and priorities for multi-country projects as an annex to the annual report based on proposals from national roadmaps and joint commitments. Union programmes may fund multi-country projects, and associated third countries, public and private entities may participate or contribute if aligned with project goals and open access requirements.
Article 12 Multi-country projects accelerator
The Commission coordinates implementation of multi-country projects at the request of Member States or on its own initiative. The Commission issues a call for Member State interest, provides guidance on implementation mechanisms and funding when at least three Member States commit, and may advise on setting up European digital infrastructure consortia.
Article 13 Objective and status of EDICs
Member States may execute multi-country projects through European digital infrastructure consortia, which have legal personality and extensive legal capacity in each Member State. EDICs may be represented by public or private entities with public service missions and must locate their statutory seat in a Member State that is a contributing member.
Article 14 Setting up an EDIC
Member States submit written applications to the Commission that must include the consortium request, proposed rules, project description, and host Member State declarations regarding tax and customs exemptions. The Commission assesses applications against specified requirements and adopts decisions to establish or reject EDICs through implementing acts, with rejected applications potentially leading to alternative consortium arrangements.
Article 15 Membership of an EDIC
An EDIC requires at least three Member States as members, with only contributing Member States having voting rights. Additional Member States may join on fair terms, non-contributing states may observe without voting, and other entities including third countries and international organisations may participate provided Member States retain joint voting majority.
Article 16 Governance of an EDIC
EDICs have an assembly of members with full decision-making authority and a director as executive and legal representative. The Commission participates in assembly deliberations without voting rights but may veto decisions involving centrally-managed Union programme funds, and assembly decisions must be publicly disclosed within 15 days.
Article 17 Statutes of an EDIC
EDIC statutes must specify membership and joining procedures, detailed project description, seat and name, duration and winding-up procedures, liability terms, member rights and obligations, voting rights, and asset ownership rules. Amendments to core elements require Commission approval through the formal procedure, while other amendments require Commission notification and are subject to objection within 60 days.
Article 18 Liability of an EDIC
An EDIC is liable for its own debts, and member liability for consortium debts is limited to their respective contributions unless the statutes specify higher or unlimited liability. The European Union assumes no liability for EDIC debts.
Article 19 Applicable law and jurisdiction
An EDIC's establishment and internal management shall follow Union law including this Decision, supplemented by the national law of the state where it has its legal seat for matters not covered by Union law, and by its governing documents. Court jurisdiction over disputes involving EDIC members, the EDIC itself or third parties derives from national law of the state where the EDIC's legal seat is located, except where the Court of Justice has authority under the Treaties.
Article 20 Winding-up of an EDIC
The EDIC statutes establish procedures for dissolution by assembly decision, which may include transferring activities to another entity. Insolvency rules of the Member State where the EDIC is seated apply if it cannot meet its financial obligations.
Article 21 Reporting by and control of an EDIC
EDICs must prepare annual technical and financial reports approved by their assembly and send them to the Commission for public disclosure. The Commission may provide guidance on the content of annual reports.
Article 22 Provision of information by Member States
Member States must supply information requested by the Commission when needed to perform tasks under this Decision, particularly for implementing earlier articles. Information requests must be appropriate to the Commission's work. When Member States provide company data they previously collected, they shall notify those companies first.
Article 23 Committee procedure
A committee shall assist the Commission following the procedures set out in Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. Article 5 of that regulation applies.
Article 24 Entry into force
Controls
What this policy requires, forbids, grants or penalises, one control at a time and in our own words. Each control links to the official text, which is the authority. This is not legal advice.
Drafted by the Index Drafted automatically from the official text, not yet reviewed by a person.Reviewed Checked by a person against the official text.
Themes covered 9 of 35
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Risk and scope 1 of 4
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Data and privacy 1 of 4
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- Data subject rights and consent, not covered
- Copyright and training data, not covered
Transparency and records 3 of 4
- Labelling of synthetic content, not covered
Technical safeguards 0 of 4
- Human oversight, not covered
- Accuracy, robustness and cybersecurity, not covered
- Bias and non-discrimination, not covered
- Testing and evaluation, not covered
Assurance and lifecycle 1 of 4
- Registration and notification, not covered
- Incident and breach reporting, not covered
- Post-market monitoring and corrective action, not covered
Rights and protected groups 0 of 4
- Automated decision-making rights, not covered
- Children and vulnerable groups, not covered
- Biometric identification and surveillance, not covered
- Whistleblowing, complaints and redress, not covered
Roles and organisation 3 of 6
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Enforcement and sectors 0 of 5
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Article 1 4 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
EU institutions and Member States shall cooperate to establish a framework that promotes innovation and investment by setting clear digital transformation targets measurable by 2030 using objective indicators.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
EU institutions and Member States shall coordinate their activities through structured cooperation between the European Parliament, Council, Commission and Member States.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission shall ensure consistency, comparability, transparency and completeness in monitoring and reporting across the Union on digital progress.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
A framework for large-scale multi-country projects shall be established to support digital transformation goals.
Article 3 5 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
EU institutions and Member States shall cooperate to promote a human-centred, rights-based, inclusive digital environment with secure and interoperable technologies accessible to all across the Union.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
EU institutions and Member States shall strengthen collective digital resilience and bridge digital divides by developing basic and advanced digital skills through education, training and lifelong learning.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
EU institutions and Member States shall ensure digital sovereignty through secure data infrastructures that support competitiveness of SMEs, resilience of value chains, start-up ecosystems and digital innovation hubs.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
EU institutions and Member States shall deploy digital capabilities to reduce geographical disparities and grant fair access to digital technologies and data to achieve high digital intensity in enterprises.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
EU institutions and Member States shall develop a comprehensive ecosystem of interoperable digital infrastructures including cloud, quantum, artificial intelligence and data management to promote business growth and create jobs.
Article 4 7 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The European Parliament, Council, Commission and Member States shall work together to achieve a target of at least 80% of the population aged 16-74 having basic digital skills by 2030.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The European Parliament, Council, Commission and Member States shall work together to achieve a target of 20 million or more ICT specialists working in the Union by 2030, while promoting women's participation and increasing the number of digital graduates.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The European Parliament, Council, Commission and Member States shall work together to ensure all fixed-location end users are covered by a gigabit network and all populated areas receive next-generation wireless high-speed networks at least equivalent to 5G by 2030.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The European Parliament, Council, Commission and Member States shall work together to achieve a target of at least 20% of global semiconductor production in value occurring in the Union by 2030, in accordance with environmental sustainability law.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The European Parliament, Council, Commission and Member States shall work together to ensure the Union develops quantum acceleration capability by 2025 and achieves quantum computing leadership by 2030.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The European Parliament, Council, Commission and Member States shall work together to achieve a target of at least 75% of Union enterprises adopting cloud computing, big data, or artificial intelligence by 2030, in line with their business operations.
- Applies to: Public authorityDeadline was Drafted by the Index
The Commission may review and potentially amend the digital targets by June 2026.
Article 5 4 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission shall monitor Union progress towards the general objectives and digital targets using DESI indicators and key performance indicators established through implementing acts.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Member States shall provide the Commission with timely statistics and data needed to monitor digital transformation and achievement of the digital targets, disaggregated by gender and region where possible.
- Applies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission may use alternative data collection methods such as surveys or direct collection when relevant statistics from Member States are unavailable.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission shall establish benchmarks for each digital target through close cooperation with Member States to guide monitoring and support national strategic roadmaps.
Article 6 3 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission shall annually report to the European Parliament and Council on digital transformation progress and the state of the Digital Economy and Society Index.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission shall assess Union progress towards the digital targets based on analysis of DESI indicators and key performance indicators compared to projected trajectories, including regional dimensions where applicable.
- Applies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission's recommendations may address the ambition level of Member State contributions, national policies and measures, adjustments to national roadmaps, and the consistency and interactions of existing policies.
Article 7 5 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDeadline was Drafted by the Index
Each Member State shall deliver to the Commission a national strategic roadmap by 9 October 2023 describing adopted, implemented and planned policies contributing to the digital targets.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Each national roadmap shall describe planned, adopted and implemented policies, national projected trajectories for digital targets, and the timing and expected impact of those policies.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Each national roadmap shall identify the underlying legal basis, commitments, public and human resources, and other critical enablers needed to achieve the digital targets.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Member States shall estimate the investments and resources needed to achieve the digital targets and describe the sources of those investments, including planned use of Union programmes and instruments.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Member States shall ensure that national roadmaps take into account the most recent country-specific recommendations from the European Semester and consider recommended policies from the Commission.
Article 8 5 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission and Member States shall work closely to identify and address gaps where progress toward one or more digital targets is judged insufficient or significant shortages have been found.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The analysis of deficiencies shall consider the different capacities of Member States and the risks that delays in some targets may harm achievement of others.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Within two months of the Digital Decade Report being published, the Commission and Member States shall attempt to discuss a Member State's preliminary observations, especially on recommended policies and measures.
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Within five months of the second Digital Decade Report and every two years afterward, Member States concerned shall send the Commission updated national roadmaps including policies and actions to achieve digital targets, or state reasons if no changes are needed.
- RightApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Member States may request that a peer review process be started to assess specific aspects of their policies and actions, including their contribution to achieving a digital target.
Article 9 1 control
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission shall publish the outcomes of its stakeholder consultations.
Article 10 2 controls
- ObligationApplies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
Multi-country projects shall help achieve the general objectives and digital targets through cooperation, technological excellence, supply chain resilience, safe digital solutions, inclusive transformation, and digital skills.
- Applies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
The Commission may recommend that Member States propose or participate in a multi-country project that meets the stated requirements.
Article 11 5 controls
- Applies to: Public authorityDrafted by the Index
All Union programmes and investment schemes may contribute to a multi-country project where their establishing acts allow.
- ObligationApplies to: OthersDrafted by the Index
An associated third country, including through its financial contributions, shall follow the rules of the Union programmes and investment schemes supporting the multi-country project.
- Applies to: AnyoneDrafted by the Index
Other public or private entities may contribute to multi-country projects where suitable.
- ObligationApplies to: ProviderDrafted by the Index
Private contributions to multi-country projects shall serve the stated purpose and goals and shall support open access to results and their reuse for Union citizens and businesses where appropriate.
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