Eradicating the digital divide and promoting digital inclusion and literacy

28.3.2017

Question for written answer E-002110-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Andrey Kovatchev (PPE)

It is important to note that more and more citizens use information and communication technologies (ICT) in an effort to gain an increasingly wide range of information, to exchange opinions, or to be heard. In this way, they are involved and participate in political life and in the decision-making at local and national level, and even at EU level.

Digital inclusion and literacy must be improved in order to eradicate the existing digital divide, which is a major obstacle for the exercise of active citizenship. In many Member States there are still areas without Internet access and in all societies there are huge sectors of the population that do not possess the technical skills to use the Internet (the digitally illiterate).

To guarantee the role of the Internet as a valid and effective democratic tool, the digital divide absolutely must be eradicated and citizens must be equipped with suitable media literacy and digital technology skills.

1. What concrete actions has the Commission taken to speed up the eradication of the existing digital divide in the Member States?

2. What actions will the Commission take in the future to further digital inclusion and literacy?