The European Commission digital strategy for 2019-2024 focuses on three key objectives  to ensure that digital solutions help Europe to pursue its own way towards a digital transformation that works for the benefit of people: 

1. Technology that works for people: The objective is to focus the development, deployment and uptake of technology that makes a real difference to people’s daily lives. The EU should have a strong and competitive economy that masters and shapes technology, whilst respecting European values. 

Key Actions

• Legislation on Artificial Intelligence that would address trustworthy AI and introduce rules on the safety, liability, fundamental rights and data. 

2. A fair and competitive economy: A frictionless single market, where companies of all sizes and in any sector can compete on equal terms, and can develop, market and use digital technologies, products and services at a scale that boosts their productivity and global competitiveness, and consumers can be confident that their rights are respected.

Key Actions

• A European Data Strategy to make Europe a global leader in the data-agile economy, announcing a legislative framework for data governance and a possible Data Act
• Ongoing evaluation and review of the fitness of EU competition rules for the digital age and launch of a sector inquiry 
• The potential introduction of ex ante rules, within the Digital Services Act, to ensure that markets characterised by large platforms with significant network effects acting as gatekeepers, remain fair and contestable for innovators, businesses, and new market entrants
• An Industrial Strategy Package putting forward a range of actions to facilitate the transformation towards clean, circular, digital and globally competitive EU industries, including SMEs and the reinforcement of single market rules. 
• A New Consumer Agenda with the aim of empowering consumers to make informed choices and play an active role in the digital transformation 

3. An open, democratic and sustainable society: A trustworthy environment in which citizens are empowered in how they act and interact, and of the data they provide both online and offline. A European way to digital transformation which enhances the EU’s democratic values, respects the fundamental rights, and contributes to a sustainable, climate-neutral and resource-efficient economy.

Key Actions

• New and revised rules to address illegal content online within the Digital Services Act, by increasing and harmonising the responsibilities of online platforms and information service providers and reinforce the oversight over platforms’ content policies in the EU
• Revision of eIDAS Regulation to improve its effectiveness, extend its benefits to the private sector and promote trusted digital identities for all Europeans 
• A circular electronics initiative, mobilising existing and new instruments in line with the policy framework for sustainable products of the forthcoming circular economy action plan, to ensure that devices are designed for durability, maintenance, dismantling, reuse and recycling and including a right to repair or upgrade to extend the lifecycle of electronic devices and to avoid premature obsolescence 

Useful links

Communication: Shaping Europe’s digital future