In her State of the Union this year, President von der Leyen reiterated Europe’s ambition to finance the transition to a digital and net-zero economy. Increasingly, digitalisation is a fundamental part of societal infrastructure, from connectivity that supports consumer mobile services, through to healthcare, education, agriculture, transportation, industrial capabilities and more.
Getting societal infrastructure to work and be resilient means that we need to have a long hard look at the relationship between the public and private sectors and their respective roles to ensure there is no public harm. How do we get this right and what does it need ?
On 27 October 2022, the think tank Friends of Europe will hold its annual State of Europe high-level roundtable in Brussels. In the run-up to State of Europe, Debating Europe is convening a series of citizens’ panels, with a mix of citizens and civil society representatives. Each of these citizens’ panels will be matched to a session at State of Europe.
The citizens’ panel we are publishing today met to discuss digital connectivity across Europe. You can watch the panel in the video above. Taking part were:
- Ingrid
- Sophie
- Yordan
How can Europe close the ‘digital divide’ in digital connectivity, particularly between urban and rural areas? How can the EU ensure digitalisation is both environmentally sustainable and a just transition, and that the most vulnerable are not left behind? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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It is quite a challenge for citizens to match and keep up with their comments vs the speed of themes presented by the DE/EU!
My concern in principle is equally similar to the previous theme about EU health issues.
Any (young) generation growing up & being appropriately educated and motivated in times of great technical innovations & advancements will automatically adapt and evolve sufficiently prepared to master these new challenges- like the generations before them.
Parents & grandparents can consult their young folks nowadays to help them along- should they be interested. There is no need for political interventions & legislation! General demand, study opportunities & earning potentials will inspire sufficient balance in the market to satisfy these challenges.
Not everyone needs to be IT savvy and many folks just choose or chose to opt out quite naturally.
I trust that most Europeans are intelligent, interested, & motivated enough to meet these challenges head-on- as other nations do!
Primary school children today are quite at home with the simple aspects of IT and easily immerse themselves like ducks taking to the water. Employees in companies & young entrepreneurs will also quickly (have to) learn to ‘swim’ as well- should they have missed any early introductions to IT.
Price competitiveness between companies is a free-market issue and the prevention of monopolies is a state function. Safeguarding of critical infrastructure from Putin’s terror is a combined UN/Nato/State security function!
Too much fuzz about nothing!