Mediterranean Economies 2023
DOI: 10.1401/9788815411167/c6
Notably, with regard to Italy, the EU’s
third largest economy, the country’s progress in digital transformation over the coming years
is crucial to enable the EU as a whole to reach the 2030 Digital Decade targets. In this
respect, it is worth noting that Italy is the EuroMed country that, in absolute terms, will
receive the most resources under the RRF. Despite significant improvements made in various
digitalization dimensions, there are still gaps in the digital transformation to be overcome.
Giving continuity to the initiatives undertaken and leveraging on its many assets would allow
Italy to further improve its performance in the DESI. Finally, the future strategic roadmap of
Greece, bottom of the ranking of EuroMed countries for its overall DESI score, requires
careful attention. In fact, although there are some signs that Greece is catching up, like the
ambitious programme included in the «Digital Transformation Bible» presented by the Ministry
of Digital Governance or participation in a wide spectrum of European initiatives and
programmes, including the Technical Support Instrument (TSI, the Research and Innovation
funding programme Horizon 2020) and the European Digital Innovation Hubs, vigilance is
required to ensure the swift implementation of the major plans currently in force as it will
boost digital opportunities at national level and contribute to achieving the Digital Decade
targets.
¶{p. 220}
Box 1.
National Digital Strategies of EuroMed Countries and specific measures adopted to sustain digitalization
Country: Italy
Programme name (time
frame):
Digital Italy 2026 (2021-2026)
Goals:
1. Spread digital identity, ensuring
that it is used by 70% of the population; 2. Bridge the digital skills gap, with at least
70% of the population being digitally capable;
3. Raise to about 75% the proportion of
Italian PAs using cloud services; 4. Reach at least 80% of essential public services
provided online; 5. Reach, in collaboration with the MISE, 100% of Italian families and
businesses with ultra-broadband networks.
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €48 billion
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human capital:
- National Strategy for Digital Skills
(2020-2025)
- Repubblica Digitale Fund (2022-2026)
- Program GOL (National programme for
the Guaranteed Employability of Workers) (2021)
- National Plan for New Skills (2021)
- National AI PhD Programme (PhD-AI.it)
(2021)
Connectivity:
- Italy at 1 Giga Plan (2021-2025)
- Connected School Plan (2021-2025)
- Connected Healthcare facilities Plan
(2021-2025)
- Italy 5G Plan (2021-2025)
- Connected smaller Islands Plan
(2021-2025)
- Scuola 4.0 Plan (2022-2026)
Integration of digital technology
- Transition 4.0 (2022-2025) (an
evolution of Industry 4.0 Programme) - Strategic Program on Artificial Intelligence
(2022-2024)
Digital public services:
- Cloud Italy Strategy (2021-2026)
Country: France
Programme name (time frame):
Stratégie internationale de la France
pour le numérique (2020-2030)
Goals:
1. Preserve an open digital
international environment;
2. Promote access for all to a diverse
digital;
3. Build Trust on the Internet;
4. Guarantee effectiveness protection
of rights;
5. Strengthen the European digital
ecosystem;
6. Strengthen security and autonomy of
European strategy in the digital world;
7. Make France a pole of excellence in
the digital world;
8. Ensure France’s safety and autonomy
in the digital world
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €8.4 billion
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human Capital:
- Education and digital strategy
(2020-2025)
- Skills Investment Plan (2022-2025)
- France 2030 Plan – Future skills and
professions call (2021) - Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy (2021)
Connectivity:
- Très Haut Débit plan (2021-2025)
- Communication strategy (2021)
Integration of digital technology:
- Research Acceleration strategies
(implemented in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, quantum and 5G)(2021-2025)
Digital public services:
- National strategy for the
digitalisation of public administration (2019-2024)
- Cloud au centre (new policy for cloud
service in PA) (2021)
Country: Spain
Programme name (time frame):
Digital Spain 2025 (2020-2025)
Goals:
Goals by 2015:
1. Ensure adequate digital connectivity
for 100% of the population (coverage of 100 Mbps);
2. 100% of the radio spectrum ready for
5G;
3. Strengthen the digital skills of
workers and of the public as a whole (80% of people with basic digital skills, of
which 50% women);
4. Strengthen cybersecurity capacity,
consolidating its position (20,000 new specialists in cybersecurity, AI and
data).
5. Promote the digitalisation of public
administrations (50% of public services available on mobile apps);
6. Accelerate the digitalisation of
companies, with a special focus on SMEs and start-ups (25% of SME business volume
provided by e-commerce);
7. 10% reduction in CO2 emissions
resulting from digitalisation;
8. Make Spain more attractive in the
audiovisual field (30% increase in audiovisual production);
9. Support the transition to a data
economy, (25% of companies using AI and big data);
10. Set up a national charter of
citizens’ digital rights.
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €19.6 billion
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human Capital:
- National Digital Competences Plan
(2021)
- Educa en Digital programme
(2020-2021)
- School of Education and Artificial
Intelligence project (2021)
Connectivity:
- Universalisation of Digital
Infrastructures for Cohesion (ÚNICO-Banda Ancha) programme (2021)
- Strategy for the promotion of 5G
technology (2020)
Integration of digital technology:
- SMEs Digitalisation Plan (2021-2025)
- Spain Entrepreneurial Nation strategy
(to support start-ups) (2021)
- Quantum Spain project (to create a
quantum computing ecosystem) (2021)
- National AI Strategy (2021)
Digital public services:
- Plan for the Digitalisation of
Spain’s Public Administration (2021-2025)
Country: Portugal
Programme name (time frame):
Portugal’s Action Plan for Digital
Transition (2020-2030)
Goals:
Capacity building and digital
inclusion:
1. Digital education;
2. Professional training and
re-skilling;
3. Digital inclusion and literacy.
Businesses’ Digital
Transformation:
4. Entrepreneurship and investment
attraction;
5. Companies, with a focus on SMEs;
6. Scientific and technological
knowledge transfer to the economy.
Public Services’
Digitalization:
7. Digital public services;
8. Agile and open Public
Administration;
9. Connected and open local and
regional administration.
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €3.67 billion
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human Capital:
-National Digital Competences
Initiative e.2030-Portugal INCoDe.2030 (2020)
- Capacitação Digital de Docentes
(Digital empowerment of teachers) initiative (2021)
- Emprego+Digital programme (2020)
- Jovem+Digital programme (2020)
- Upskill programme (2021-2022)
Connectivity:
- Expansion of coverage of very
high-capacity networks and the adoption of mobile broadband
- Auction of the main pioneer 5G bands
(2021-2022)
Integration of digital technology:
- Indústria 4.0 - Advantage i4.0.
programme (2022)
- AI strategy (2022)
- Open data portal (2022)
Digital public services:
- Innovation and Modernisation of the
State and Public Administration (2020-2023)
Country: Greece
Programme name (time frame):
Digital Transformation Bible
(2020-2025)
Goals:
1. Safe, fast, and reliable access to
the Internet for all;
2. A digital state offering better
digital services to the citizens for all life events;
3. Development of digital skills for
all citizens;
4. Facilitate the transformation to
digital enterprise;
5. Support and strengthening of digital
innovation;
6. Make productive use of public
administration data;
7. Incorporate digital technologies to
all economic sectors.
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €7 billion
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human Capital:
- Digital skills strategy (2020-2025)
Connectivity:
- Ultra-fast Broadband initiative
Integration of digital technology:
- National Cybersecurity Strategy
(2020-2025)
Digital public services:
- Gov.gr - digital public services
portal (2020)
- GRNET cloud platform (2022)
Country: Cyprus
Programme name (time
frame):
Digital Cyprus 2025 (2020-2025)
Goals:
1. Technology that works for people;
2. A vibrant sustainable and resilient
economy;
3. An open democratic and inclusive
society;
4 A green digital transition for
Cyprus.
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €282 million
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human Capital:
- Digital Skills - National Action Plan
(2021-2025)
- Innovative Schools Programme (2021)
- eSafe Schools Programme (2021)
- Single and Multi-Company Training
Programmes (2020)
Connectivity:
- Broadband Plan of Cyprus (2021-2025)
- In 2021 assignment of 5G pioneer
bands (the 700 MHz and the 3.6 GHz 5G pioneer bands)
Integration of digital technology:
- Cyprus Industrial Strategy Policy
(2019-2030)
- National strategy on Artificial
Intelligence (2020-2030)
- National Cybersecurity Strategy
(2012)
Digital public services:
- eIDAS Regulation (2021)
- Government Gateway web platform
(2022)
- To set up of National e-Health
Authority (NeHA) (2019)
Country: Malta
Programme name (time frame):
Digital Malta 2020 (2014-2020)
Goals:
1. Ensure all citizens are offered the
possibility to benefit from ICT as a fundamental right;
2. Advocate proactive leadership and
delivering programmes that meet needs;
3. Support national priorities in line
with government policy, the National Reform Programme and the EU obligations;
4. Engage the private sector as an
important player in the delivery of the Strategy;
5. Optimise value and accountability;
6. Ensure collaboration between
stakeholders to make the best use of national strategic information assets, encourage
synergies and minimise fragmentation;
7. Encourage a more environmentally
friendly society through greener procurement, implementation and application of ICT; 8.
Support and enable Research and Innovation (R&I) in identified areas of strength,
capability and centres of excellence (smart specialisation);
9. Adopt an open and experimental
mindset, capitalising on lessons learned from success stories and respecting best practices
and international standards;
10. Maximise opportunities from
multiple funding sources, including European and international funding programmes and the
private sector.
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €80.8 million
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human Capital:
- eSkills Strategy (2022-2024)
- Pathfinder MDIA Digital Scholarship
(2021)
Connectivity:
- Broadband Cost Reduction Directive
(2020)
- Telecosts.com portal of Malta
Communication Authority (2021)
Integration of digital technology:
- Smart Specialisation Strategy
(2021-2027)
- AI Strategy (2019)
Digital public services:
- Achieving a Service of Excellence
(201-2026)
- myHealth portal (2021)
- National Data Portal (2019)
Country: Slovenia
Programme name (time frame):
Digital Economy Transformation Strategy
(2021-2030)
Goals:
1. Competences and the digital
inclusion ecosystem;
2. Secure and sustainable digital
infrastructures;
3. Digital technologies and the digital
transformation of businesses; 4. The digitalisation of public services.
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €452 million
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human Capital:
- Act for promotion of digital
inclusion (2022)
- The Slovenian digital education
action plan (DEAP) covering formal education up to university level is being adopted
Connectivity:
- Slovenia’s transition to Gigabit
Society (2022)
- Broadband Plan (2021-2025)
Integration of digital technology:
- Strategy on digital transformation
of the economy (2021- 2030) - National Artificial Intelligence programme (2021)
Digital public services:
- Accessibility of Websites and Mobile
Applications Act (2021)
- e-government portal eUprava (2022)
- Inovativen.si project of Ministry of
Public Administration (2022)
- E-Demokracija portal (2022)
- predlagam.vladi.si portal (2022)
- STOP Bureaucracy portal (2022)
Country: Croatia
Programme name (time
frame):
National Development Strategy Croatia
2030 (2021-2030)
Goals:
1. Enhance the digital transition of
society and economy, and a key focus under this objective is to reach the EU average Digital
Economy and Society Index (DESI) rating by 2030;
2. Create initiatives to develop
digital competencies and promote the availability of digital jobs for all.
Main funding and overall
budget:
EU RRF, €1,285 billion
Main strategic measures
adopted to sustain digitalization in specific dimensions:
Human Capital:
- e-School programme (2022-2023)
- Strategic framework for digital
maturity of the schools and school education in the Republic of Croatia (2020-2030)
Connectivity:
- An investment of EUR 106 million
aims to provide VHCN connectivity services (2020-2025)
- An investment of about EUR 20
million will target: (i) building passive electronic communications infrastructure to
provide access to VHCN and 5G services in rural and sparsely populated areas where there are
no market conditions to attract private investment; and (ii) 5G coverage in urban areas and
the main terrestrial transport routes (5G corridors) (2020-2025)
Integration of digital technology:
- Implementation Programme of Central
State Office for the Development of the Digital Society (2021-2024) An investment with a
budget of about EUR 7.5 million to put in place the framework to establish and monitor
Digital Innovation Hubs (2021-2027)
- Strategic Program on Artificial
Intelligence (2022-2024)
Digital public services:
- Strategic framework for e-health
development (2021-2027)
- e-Citizen national web portal (2021)
- START platform (2021)