Europe's Digital Decade: Commission launches consultation and discussion on EU digital principles

Side view of man working on multiple computer screens

The European Commission is launching a public consultation on a new set of digital principles that would shape Europe's digital future. These principles will guide the EU and Member States in designing digital rules and regulations that deliver the benefits of digitalisation for all citizens. The consultation seeks to gather views from citizens, non-governmental and civil society organisations, businesses, administrations and all interested parties.

The role of digital technologies has radically changed in society since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a clear emergent digital divide, not only between those who live in well-connected urban areas and rural areas, but also between those who can fully benefit from and utilise an enriched and secure digital space, and those who cannot. With this in mind, a new set of digital principles is needed to foster a democratic and inclusive digital society that promotes European innovation, ensuring digital transformation leads to a better life for Europeans.

The consultation is as a follow-up to the Commission's Communication '2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade' on 9 March, which addresses the challenges and seeks to resolve them in a way that promotes widespread solidarity, prosperity, democracy and sustainability, encouraging citizens to connect beyond their usual territory and explore new possibilites.

The Commission hopes to achieve decisive progress with the other institutions on a Declaration of Digital Principles by the end of 2021, and the involvement of citizens and other stakeholders is crucial in this exercise.

The consultation will be open until 2 September 2021 at 24:00.