About Sustainable Business News Investors Careers COVID-19 Vodafone Foundation Delivering Europe’s digital future today COVID-19 Recovery There is a pressing need to kick start the COVID-19 recovery and build back better, a need recognised by the European Union’s €672.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility. If successful, the benefits to Member States, their citizens and their businesses could be transformative – economically, socially and environmentally. The European Commission has highlighted that the cumulative additional GDP contribution of new digital technologies could amount to €2.2 trillion in the EU by 2030 . In our new report, ‘Digital for Europe: collaboration, innovation, transformation’ report we go further, looking not only at the economic benefits of digital, but also the positive social and environmental impact digital can deliver. We also know that there are huge challenges in achieving these benefits – the European Commission also acknowledges there is a gap of €125 billion per year to meet the investment needs of the digital and green transition. This means we all need to work together– industry, governments, policy makers – to invest in Europe’s digital future. In the 5G industrial revolution, in democratising healthcare, in closing the digital divide and digitising SMEs. If this is done, Europe can establish strong foundations needed to generate a digital dividend for current and future generations. In turn, this will enable Europe to accelerate out of the crisis, create jobs and growth opportunities and position Europe as a global leader. We commissioned Deloitte to conduct a high-level analysis on the potential contribution of National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) towards the Digital Decade targets. This study, titled Achieving the Digital Decade: Recovery & Resilience Plan Contributions covers 20 Member States and the overall EU progress towards these targets. The 20 Member States included are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. Based on this financial analysis, gaps appear greatest in regard to digital infrastructure, ICT specialists, the digitalisation of SMEs and cloud adoption. Furthermore, the study shows that the national and EU recovery plans for connectivity amount to just 46% of the estimated €210bn EU-wide investment needed to meet 2025 targets. We have created a series of papers that explore a range of digital opportunities that could help Europe achieve the EU’s ambition for a truly Digital Europe, a Europe that is greener, more inclusive and more resilient. They show how, by putting digital transformation at the heart of the recovery agenda, we can deliver: Digital Transformation Policy Papers Our report, ‘Digital for Europe: collaboration, innovation, transformation’, shows how investing in Europe’s digital future can generate a green, inclusive dividend for current and future generations. Available in: Undersea cables have always been vital to global connectivity, but as Europe’s infrastructure ages, we risk being bypassed by newer technologies. Find out why these cables are the “missing pillar” in the EU’s digital strategy. Available in: For rural economies, faster internet access is vital: 80 new jobs are created for every 1,000 new broadband users. Find out how better rural connectivity could increase the EU’s GDP by €192bn and lead to 320,000 new jobs by 2030. Available in: Creating 5G travel corridors, alongside roads and rail links, will help develop more efficient industrial zones and clusters, and deliver net benefits of €15 billion a year by 2030. Available in: 5G is transforming European businesses, schools and societies. Find out how the latest mobile technology will increase the EU’s industrial output by €250 billion. Available in: The EU aims to be carbon neutral by 2050. Find out how technology can deliver the twin green and digital transformations and significantly reduce Europe’s CO2e. Available in: COVID-19 has placed huge strains on global health systems. Find out how digital healthcare could cut costs by almost €50 billion and lead to increased life expectancy. Available in: OpenRAN technology can help boost innovation, increase network security, speed up 5G rollout and help drive Europe’s data economy. Available in: Europe’s cities are facing a variety of challenges, such as pollution, congestion and inequality. Find out how making them ‘smarter’ can create future-proofed, sustainable places to live that improve their citizens’ quality of life. Available in: Gigabit hubs in Ireland have supercharged the country’s SMEs – driving investment, growing communities, and creating rural jobs. If these were replicated across Europe, SMEs could increase their turnover by over €100 billion. Available in: Related pages What if... ...everyone could stay connected whenever, wherever? Europe.connected Staying connected has never been more important, as people, businesses and government have all had to adapt to new ways of working and living. Public policy Access our dedicated public policy pages. Our purpose We aim to build a digital society that enhances socio-economic progress, embraces everyone and does not come at the cost of our planet. 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