SAPIE provided remarks to the key strategic document Path to Digital Decade 2030
SAPIE is familiar with the EU priorities in the long term digital initiatives, mainly with the focus on the digitalisation of the SMEs across four key priority areas: Skills, Infrastructure, Digitalisation of business and Digitalisation of public services.
In connection to the European Parliament strategic document "Path to Digital Decade 2030", which we have already mentioned in our press release, our organization was approached by Slovak MEP Ivan Stefanec to participate in the preparation of amendments as an important step in the creation of this key document. This document deals with the strategic direction of the EU in the field of digital strategy for the next eight years.
The report aims to define the clear path that Europe should take in order to achieve the ambitious goals of digitization in this decade.
The European Commission offers several strategic solutions in the areas of education, connectivity, transformation into digital solutions and the model of international projects.
Our suggestions and proposals were finally incorporated into the final comments, which were addressed by our MEPs to the European Commission.
Two specific areas, where SAPIE sees a potential weakness are:
The need to discuss the specific definition of digital rights and the focus and policies that the EU would be willing to take in defense of digital and technological sovereignty. Both of these aspects, if understood too extensively, can curb market freedom. To apply such a protectionist approach might in some proposals prefer domestic players (or "defend") against tech leaders. It can finally slow or decrease the quality and digital transformation processes.
The European Union is losing to the digital leaders and needs to invest in the digital transformation of ordinary SMEs as well as the digital skills of EU employees. However, given the opportunities provided by the foreign born technologies and the environment in which these innovations were created, the EU should not follow a path of heightened protectionism of the domestic champions or the consumers against the added value for the economy and society.
The complete document can be found here.
