Digital Europe Programme is now awaiting adoption by the European Parliament

EU’s new tool aimed to boosting digital transformation received the approval of the Council yesterday

The new programming period of the European Union is slowly but decidedly moving towards implementation. The latest update comes with yesterday’s adoption of Digital Europe Programme by the EU Council.

The EU’s new instrument, set to boost the digital transformation of the continent with 7 588 million euro over 2021-2027, is now waiting for a green light from the Parliament before starting to apply retroactively from 1 January 2021.

Providing the conditions for cutting-edge technology in four areas

Once adopted, the programme will start providing funding for rolling out cutting-edge technology in crucial areas with the following indicative budget:

• high-performance computing: 2 226 914 000 euro
• artificial intelligence: 2 061 956 000 euro
• cybersecurity and trust: 1 649 566 000 euro
• advanced digital skills: 577 347 000 euro
• deployment, best use of digital capacities, and interoperability: 1 072 217 000 euro.

Thus, Digital Europe will add up to other European funding programmes supporting digitalisation, such as Horizon Europe and Connecting Europe Facility. Another significant boost for digital transformation is expected through the national recovery and resilience plans, as to conform with the new Recovery and Resilience Facility regulation they should allocate to it no fewer than 20% of expenditure.

“The Digital Europe Programme is part of the EU's strong push to make the most of digitalisation for the benefit of its societies and economies, increase its autonomy in key technologies and bolster its competitiveness. It will help us build high-performing and secure state-of-the-art digital services for all citizens and businesses across the Union,” Pedro Nuno Santos, Portuguese Minister for Infrastructure and Housing and President of the Council commented on the occasion.

The vote that took place on 16 March means that the Council has adopted its position on the first reading and the legal act now needs to be adopted by the EP on the second reading. Only then can it be published in the EU official journal and enter into force.