EUDIGIT in Cluj-Napoca: Bridging the digital gap between urban and rural communities

The sixth European Digital Citizens seminar brought together the best practices from Varna, Hamburg, Genoa, Marseille, Cluj-Napoca and Rotterdam on how to tackle the digital divide present in the countryside

On 6 December, the European delegates to the sixth EUDIGIT hybrid seminar met in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, to discuss good practices for tackling the digital divide between urban and rural areas in the framework of the EU-funded initiative.

The conference was organised by the Cluj Metropolitan Association, in partnership with the City of Marseille and TheMayor.EU. The seminar also had a digital component enabling citizens and interested stakeholders to join in the presentations from a distance. This was the first in-person meeting between the participating municipalities since the project's beginning.

Cluj-Napoca: Tackling the digital gap between rural and urban populations

This was a chance for local authorities to present their Digital Transformation Strategy, which aims to create a specialised office in the administration to handle the issue long-term, instead of implementing a framework of short-term projects. Additionally, the Cluj-Metropolitan Association also showcased a pilot project for delivering high-speed broadband to remote rural areas. 

The event also included a field trip to Petrestii de Jos and Plaiuri, two villages in the metropolitan area that have high-speed internet connections. Moreover, the event was a chance for Cluj-Napoca, one of the most forward-thinking cities in Romania to show off its innovative digital policies under the framework of the EU-funded project EUDIGIT – European Digital Citizens.

The past, present and future

Apart from local highlights, the seminar was also a chance for the other participating cities to showcase their policies to fill the digital divide between rural and urban areas. The conference included delegates from the cities of Varna, Genoa, Marseille, Hamburg and Rotterdam. 

In the coming weeks, TheMayor.EU will publish an e-book with the best practices showcased during the seminar. The slides and audio from the cities' presentations will also be available. Follow TheMayor.EU to get the latest information for the closing session of the EUDIGIT project, which is set to take place in Marseille, France, next year.

About EUDIGIT

Until March 2023, the cities of Marseille, Varna, Genoa, Hamburg, Rotterdam and Cluj-Napoca, supported by “TheMayor.EU – the European Portal for Cities and Citizens”, are working on achieving the following ambitious objectives:

• Strengthening EU citizenship and citizens' awareness of its benefits;
• Contributing to bridging the digital gap in cities;
• Co-building digital policies with citizens.

EUDIGIT is funded under the 'Europe for Citizens' programme of the European Union.