EU4Digital Steering Committee: focus on key priorities in digital support to Eastern Partners

The EU4Digital Facility held its first Steering Committee in Brussels on 17 September 2019, reviewing progress in the first six months of the project’s implementation, as well as upcoming priorities under the EU4Digital Initiative.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide key stakeholders with an overview of the EU4Digital Facility’s progress during the first six months of implementation (January-June 2019), as well as the upcoming priorities. It was also an opportunity to review the state of play of other projects included under the EU4Digital initiative, such as Broadband Strategies, EaPConnect, and the upcoming Cyber Resilience project.

A series of thematic sessions highlighted the following upcoming priorities under the six strands of the EU4Digital Facility:

Telecom Rules 

• Introduction of common roaming space within EaP region;
• Strengthening of national regulatory authorities’ independence;
• Coordinated approach for freeing up 700MHz. 

Trust & Security 

• Recognition of eID;
• eSignature pilot;
• Development of a standard set of cybersecurity guidelines. 

eTrade 

• Pilot mechanisms of exchange of pre-arrival information;
• Preparatory actions to pilot Digital Transport Corridor between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea;
• Pilot cross-border eTrade solutions. 

ICT innovation and Startup ecosystems 

• Setting in place a common legislative framework;
• Promotion of networking of innovation ecosystem players;
• Implementation of promotion campaigns. 

eHealth

• Development of common harmonisation and interoperability guidelines and standards for the EaP region;
• Implementation of a cross-border eHealth platform in the EaP region;
• Involvement of the EaP region in relevant EU projects, programmes and initiatives. 

Digital Skills 

• Definition of a common methodology in EaP region;
• Creation of national coalitions for digital skills and jobs.

The meeting also saw a presentation of the new EU4Digital website (www.eufordigital.eu), which provides news and information about the Initiative, accessible from both thematic and country perspectives.

The next Steering Committee meeting takes place in a year.

EU4Digital aims to extend the benefits of the European Union’s Digital Single Market to the Eastern Partner states, channelling EU support to develop the potential of the digital economy and society, in order to bring economic growth, generate more jobs, improve people’s lives and help businesses. 

Through EU4Digital, the EU supports Eastern Partnership countries on reducing roaming tariffs, developing high-speed broadband to boost economies and expand e-services, harmonising digital frameworks across society, in areas ranging from logistics to health, building cyber security, developing skills, and creating more jobs in the digital industry. 

Presentation: EU4 Digital Facility 1 st Steering Committee Meeting – State of play of the EU4 Digital initiative