Fact Sheets on the European Union
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Digital agenda for Europe

Digital service platforms and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, continue to reshape how Europe works, communicates, shops and learns. Since 2024, the EU has shifted from agenda-setting to implementation, with new rules on platforms, data, digital identity, AI and cybersecurity driving secure digital spaces, fair competition and digital sovereignty aligned with the green transition.

Legal basis

While the Treaties do not specify provisions for information and communication technologies (ICTs), the EU can, on the basis of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), act within policy areas such as: industry, competition, trade, trans-European networks, research, energy, the establishment of the single market, the free movement of goods, the movement of people and services, education and culture.

Objectives

The EU’s goal is to empower people and businesses to enjoy a human-centred, secure and sustainable digital future. Building on the Lisbon agenda and the 2010 Digital Agenda, the 2015 Digital Single Market programme expanded access to digital goods and services and created better conditions for networks and platforms. In 2020, the strategy for shaping Europe’s digital future focused on technology that serves people, strengthens competitiveness and supports an open, democratic society. The 2030 Digital Compass set targets, to be achieved by 2030, for skills, digital public services, business transformation and resilient infrastructure. Since 2022, the Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles has anchored EU values – privacy, inclusiveness and sustainability – across all initiatives. Together, these strands now drive a results-oriented Digital Decade: trusted data flows, interoperable digital identity, fair platform markets, responsible AI and strong cybersecurity.

Achievements

A. The first digital agenda for Europe: 2010-2020

To encourage the development of digital networks and services, Parliament bolstered the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC). This body fosters cooperation between national regulators and the Commission, encourages best practices and works to harmonise communication regulations (Regulation (EU) 2018/1971).

The first digital agenda emphasised digital growth by promoting digital skills, high-performance computing, industry digitisation, AI development and public service modernisation. In addition, the EU established rules on geo-blocking (Regulation (EU) 2018/302) and digital service portability (Regulation (EU) 2017/1128), enabling consumers to access online content across the EU.

In addition to the new regulatory framework on data protection, the Union has passed a number of laws to facilitate the development of a data-agile economy, such as:

  • The regulation on the free flow of non-personal data (Regulation (EU) 2018/1807), which allows companies and public administrations to store and process non-personal data wherever they choose;
  • The Cybersecurity Act (Regulation (EU) 2019/881), which strengthens the EU Agency for Cybersecurity and establishes a cybersecurity certification framework for products and services;
  • The Open Data Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1024), which provides common rules for a European market for government-held data.

B. The second digital agenda for Europe: 2030 Digital Compass

This digital agenda addressed the changes brought about by digital technologies and the vital role of digital services and markets, emphasising the EU’s technological and geopolitical goals. In its communications on shaping Europe’s digital future and on Europe’s digital decade, the Commission detailed actions for secure digital services and markets. It prioritised quantum computing, blockchain strategies, AI, semiconductors (European Chips Act), digital sovereignty, horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements (Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/2847), 5G/6G, European data spaces and global tech standards.

In March 2021, the EU introduced a Digital Compass outlining four targets for 2030:

  • Skills: At least 80% of all adults should have basic digital skills, and there should be 20 million ICT specialists employed in the EU, with more women taking up such jobs;
  • Businesses: 75% of companies should use cloud-computing services, big data and AI; more than 90% of small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU should reach at least a basic level of digital intensity; and the number of EU unicorns (high-value start-ups) should double;
  • Infrastructure: All EU households should have gigabit connectivity, and all populated areas should be covered by 5G; the production of cutting-edge and sustainable semiconductors in Europe should make up 20% of worldwide production; 10 000 climate-neutral highly secure edge nodes should be deployed in the EU; and Europe should have its first quantum computer;
  • Public services: All key public services should be available online; all citizens should have access to their e-medical records; and 80% of citizens should use an electronic identity solution.

The Digital Europe Programme, introduced by Regulation (EU) 2021/694, is an EU initiative allocating EUR 7.5 billion (2021-2027) to digital technology projects in areas such as supercomputing, AI, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills and digital tech integration, supported by digital innovation hubs.

The Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 sets legally binding targets from September 2022, turning the Digital Compass from a strategy into an implementation tool with annual reporting and Member State cooperation mechanisms.

1. Data

Data sharing is central to Europe’s digital vision. As the EU promotes data-driven innovation, it seeks to maintain a balance with privacy, security, ethics and safety, while looking into the use and sharing of non-personal data for new technologies and business paradigms.

The EU data strategy introduced the idea of having common European data spaces covering nine sectors, ensuring that more data becomes available for use in the economy and society, while giving companies and individuals greater control over the data they generate. The European regulatory framework on data is composed of the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and the Data Protection Law Enforcement Directive (Directive (EU) 2016/680), the European Data Governance Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/868) on data availability and trust, and the European Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854) on fair access and user rights, while ensuring the protection of personal data.

2. Artificial intelligence

The White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) of February 2020 highlighted AI’s crucial role in modern society and anticipated its societal and economic benefits across sectors. Parliament adopted the AI Act in March 2024. It places safeguards on the use of general-purpose artificial intelligence, limits the use of biometric identification systems by law enforcement, bans social scoring and the use of AI to manipulate or exploit users’ vulnerabilities, and guarantees the right of consumers to submit complaints and receive meaningful explanations. The AI Act has been in force since 1 August 2024 with staged application (6/9/12/24/36 months) and an AI Office to coordinate EU-level enforcement.

In September 2022, the Commission introduced a proposal for a directive on AI liability, which would ensure equal protection for those harmed by AI, although this has since been withdrawn. Additionally, a new directive on liability for defective products (Directive (EU) 2024/2853) has been unveiled to address digital products such as AI.

3. Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act

A cornerstone of the digital strategy is forging a safer, more open digital single market that emphasises user rights and fair business competition. This involves two legislative pillars: the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), both of which modernise EU digital service regulations. Adopted by the co-legislators in 2022 and in force as of May 2023, they offer a unified set of rules for the entire Union. The DSA delineates responsibilities for intermediary services, especially online platforms. Large platforms are subject to specific guidelines owing to the risks they pose with regard to the dissemination of illegal and harmful content. The DMA outlines rules for companies with ‘gatekeeper’ status, targeting those most susceptible to unfair practices. This encompasses services such as online intermediation, social networks and cloud computing. Building on the DSA, the Commission proposed a regulation to streamline data collection and sharing for short-term accommodation rentals. The DSA has been fully applicable since 17 February 2024. DMA enforcement intensified in 2025 with the first fines against gatekeepers, and enforcement and monitoring are now a key focus of the Commission’s work.

4. E-government, e-identity and the digital euro

The digital agenda emphasises e-government and cross-border public sector cooperation. In March 2024, following the Commission’s proposal laying down measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union of November 2022, the Council adopted the Interoperable Europe Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/903) to enhance public services in the EU. It establishes an Interoperable Europe Board with representatives from the Member States, the Commission and other EU bodies.

Building trust online is crucial for societal and economic growth. The regulation on electronic identification (Regulation (EU) No 910/2014) provides a framework for secure digital interaction among citizens, businesses and authorities. To work towards these objectives, a framework for a European Digital Identity (Regulation (EU) 2024/1183) aiming to allow 80% of EU citizens to access vital public services securely with a digital identity by 2030 was adopted by Parliament in February 2024. Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2.0) has been in force since 20 May 2024, and the Member States are preparing the rollout of EU Digital Identity Wallets.

5. Cybersecurity

On 10 November 2022, responding to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy introduced an EU cyber defence policy and an action plan on military mobility 2.0. Both aim to increase cyber defence investments, enhance cooperation between military and civilian cyber sectors, ensure efficient cyber crisis management and bolster the EU’s position in critical cyber technologies. This reinforces the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, which seeks to create an integrated pan-EU defence industry. In December 2022, the directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (the NIS2 Directive) replaced its predecessor, broadening its reach to cover more sectors and entities. The deadline for the transposition of the NIS2 Directive was 17 October 2024, with follow-up infringement actions for delays. The regulation on horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements (Cyber Resilience Act) entered into force on 10 December 2024, with core obligations to be met by December 2027. In April 2024, Parliament adopted the Cyber Solidarity Act, which aims to strengthen solidarity at EU level and to better detect and respond to cyber threats and incidents. Parliament and the Council also reached an agreement on amending the Cybersecurity Act.

6. Media and democracy

In December 2020, a Commission communication laid out an action plan to support the recovery and transformation of Europe’s media sector. It emphasised the need for more national support through approved post-COVID-19 recovery plans and highlighted global online platforms’ disruptive influence on media, in particular their dominance over data and advertising markets. The European democracy action plan complements the aforementioned media plan and focuses on strengthening the sector’s digital adaptation, media freedom and pluralism, and on countering disinformation. It also discusses the decline in media freedom owing to increasing threats against journalists. The regulation establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market (European Media Freedom Act), adopted in March 2024, guarantees editorial independence and media pluralism, and protects journalists from surveillance.

7. Education and skills

Beyond regulation, the EU emphasises digital education. The digital education action plan 2021-2027 helps the Member States to adapt their education systems to the digital era. It prioritises creating a robust digital education ecosystem and enhancing skills for digital transformation.

8. Working conditions in platform work

The directive on improving working conditions in platform work (the Platform Work Directive) was adopted in October 2024, clarifying employment status criteria and governing algorithmic management.

9. Digital infrastructure

On 21 February 2024, the Commission presented new initiatives for the digital infrastructure in Europe, with the aim of starting discussions on concrete proposals for fostering the innovation, security and resilience of digital infrastructure.

Role of the European Parliament

In its resolution on security threats connected with the rising Chinese technological presence in the EU and possible action on the EU level to reduce them, of 12 March 2019, Parliament urged the Commission to reassess the scope of the Network and Information Security Directive and to address digitalisation threats, calling for alignment with an enhanced EU cybersecurity policy and for a larger role for the EU Agency for Cybersecurity.

On 20 October 2020, Parliament adopted three resolutions on AI addressing ethics, civil liability and intellectual property, calling for a European legal framework for AI based on ethics. To advance the digital single market (DSM), Parliament adopted a resolution on the DSA. It suggested that the legislative package should bolster the internal market, guarantee consumer protection, ensure the parity of offline and online illegal acts, maintain transparency, respect rights and include non-EU entities affecting EU consumers. It also called for increased fairness, transparency and accountability for digital service content moderation. The resolution drew from research, a workshop on e-commerce rules fit for the digital age and a series of studies on digital services with a focus on e-commerce and artificial intelligence, commissioned by the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. The alignment of the DSA and DMA proposals with Parliament’s resolution shows that Parliament can influence the legislative agenda, even without a formal right of legislative initiative.

On 20 May 2021, in its resolution on shaping the digital future of Europe, Parliament called for any barriers to the functioning of the DSM to be removed and for the use of AI to be improved for European consumers.

On 12 December 2023, in its resolution on addictive design of online services and consumer protection in the EU single market, Parliament called for a ban on addictive techniques in the design of online services, such as endless scrolling or automatic play. Some MEPs also wished to see the introduction of a digital ‘right to not be disturbed’ along with a list of good design practices.

On 13 December 2023, MEPs underlined the need to re-assess the EU’s rules on geo-blocking to remove any remaining barriers and realise the full potential of the single market.

On 13 March 2024, under the European action plan for democracy, Parliament issued a resolution approving the proposed law on media freedom and pluralism (the European Media Freedom Act), enhancing the protection of media independence, and approved the law on the transparency of democratic processes (Regulation (EU) 2024/900) regulating political advertising.

Parliament, as co-legislator for the DSA, DMA and AI Act, monitors the implementation of the NIS2 Directive and the Cyber Resilience Act through its committee work, reporting requirements and follow-up to Commission enforcement.

For more information on this topic, please see the websites of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

 

Maxim Hauk