The document discusses regional digital policy in Europe. It provides an overview of the Digital Agenda for Europe and its goals of improving broadband access, digital skills, and internet usage. Specific targets are outlined around broadband speeds and subscriptions. Challenges are discussed around skills gaps and low rates of e-commerce and internet use in some areas. The role of EU structural funds and regional strategies in meeting these goals is also examined.

1. Regional Policy in Europe
Sevilla 17.12.2013
“Regional Digital Agendas"
Miguel Gonzalez-Sancho
European Commission
DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology

2. Overview
•
Digital Agenda and scoreboard
•
Broadband
•
Demand and service
•
Cohesion policy and ICT

3. Digital Agenda for Europe
•
Political context: Digital Agenda, one of the 7 EU 2020 flagships
•
Rationale: ICT as sector and as enabler driving growth; must have
> Convergence of faster networks with smarter devices and richer contents
•
Holistic policy approach: networks > services > demand
•
Structure: 7 pillars; 100 actions (+32 with 2012 review) for EC and countries; targets
•
Monitoring (annual scoreboard): actions; key performance indicators
•
Governance: assembly, national representatives group, Going Local (e.g. Sevilla 2011)
•
Complement: DAE not 1st nor only digital strategy (Spain, Andalucía…); regional angle

4. Digital Agenda logic: networks, services, demand…
101 actions (+ 32 after
review), targets
A vibrant digital
single market
Fast & ultra-fast Internet access
Using ICT to help society
Trust & Security
Research & innovation
Interoperability & standards
(+ cloud computing, after DAE review)
Digital literacy, skills & inclusion

5. Scoreboard 2013
To find out more visit
www.ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/scoreboard
https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/scoreboard/portugal
5

6. Overview
•
Digital Agenda and scoreboard
•
Broadband
•
Demand and services
•
Cohesion policy and ICT

7. Broadband
•
Basic Broadband is now virtually everywhere in Europe – satellite performance has
improved, helping to cover the 4.5% of population not covered by fixed basic
broadband. [target 1: 100% basic broadband coverage by 2013]
•
Fast broadband now reaches half the population - 54% of EU citizens have
broadband available at speeds greater than 30 Mbps. [target 2: 100% fast
broadband (> 30 Mbps) coverage by 2020]
•
Only 2% of homes have ultrafast broadband subscriptions (above 100 Mbps), far
from the EU's 2020 target of 50%. [target 3: 50% households ultra-fast broadband (>
100 Mbps) subscriptions by 2020]
•
Internet access is increasingly going mobile - 36% of EU citizens access the internet
via a portable computer or other mobile device (access via mobile phone is up from
7% in 2008 to 27% in 2012). 4th generation mobile (LTE) coverage tripled to 26% in
one year.
•
Roaming prices in 2012 have fallen - by almost 5 euro-cents, mainly after the 1st
July 2012 Roaming regulation.

8. Fixed broadband lines by speed
14.8% of EU fixed broadband subscriptions
are at least 30 Mbps and 3.4 % at least 100 Mbps
Source: Communications Committee
8

9. Map of NGA broadband coverage (2012)

10. EU broadband policy – key areas
Market
Market
framework
framework
Financing
Financing
and funding
and funding
•
Cost reduction initiative
•
•
eComms regulation, e. g. Recommendation
on non-discrimination and costing
methodologies
European Structural and
Investment Funds (ESIF)
•
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)
•
Broadband state aid guidelines
•
Demand Stimulation
•
Single EU authorisation
•
European inputs: Spectrum and access
products
•
Single consumer space: Net neutrality,
harmonised end user rights, roaming
Single
Single
market for
market for
eComms
eComms
10

11. EU financing
EU financing for broadband
• European Structural and Investment Funds (ERDF and
EARDF): grants and financial instruments
• Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): Some complementary
EU support by means of financial instruments
• Currently project bonds pilot – open for project
proposals
• Possibly greater EIB lending activity in ICT/broadband
following capital increase

12. Overview
•
Digital Agenda and scoreboard
•
Broadband
•
Demand and services
•
Cohesion policy and ICT

13. Demand and services
•
The proportion of EU citizens having never used the internet continues to decline
(down 2 percentage points to 22%). However around 100 million EU citizens have
still never used the internet, declaring too high costs, lack of interest, or lack of skills
as the main barriers.
•
70% now use the internet regularly at least once a week, up from 67% last year;
54% of disadvantaged people use the internet regularly, up from 51% last year.
•
50% EU citizens have no or low computer skills – neither the amount nor the level
of ICT user skills has improved over the last year. 40% of companies recruiting or
trying to recruit IT specialists have difficulties in doing so and the current number of
vacancies for ICT specialists has been projected to grow to 900 000 by 2015. The
recently launched Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs will target actions toward closing
this gap.

14. 2% of Europeans have never used the Internet, 70% are
regular Internet users (at least once a week) (2012)
Source: Eurostat
14

15. Levels of computer skills
(2012)
Source: Eurostat
Moreover: in 2011, only 53% of European labour force judged their computer or Internet skills to
be sufficient if they were to look for a job or change job within a year (Eurostat).
15

17. Demand and services
•
eCommerce is growing steadily, but not cross-border - 45 % of individuals use the
internet to buy goods and services, a moderate increase from 43% one year ago;
very few buy across borders.
•
eGovernment is now undertaken by most firms and citizens – 87% of enterprises
use eGovernment and the proportion of citizens using eGovernment has also
increased over the last year to 44% (both up by 3 percentage points).

18. Citizens engaging in eCommerce (domestic & cross border)
(% of all citizens, 2012)
Source: Eurostat
18

19. eCommerce: SMEs selling online
(% of all SMEs, 2012)
Source: Eurostat
19

21. eGovernment
•Electronic interaction by citizens* with public authorities
(2012)
Source: Eurostat
*Citizens aged between 25 and 54
Source: Eurostat
21

22. eGovernment
Take-up of eGovernment by SMEs
While most large enterprises already use eGovernment services the take-up by
SMEs is slow
Source: Eurostat
22

23. Overview
•
Digital Agenda and scoreboard
•
Broadband
•
Demand and services
•
Cohesion policy and ICT

24. Cohesion policy
•
For many years EU structural funds support ICT: infrastructure, services, skills…
> 2007-13: over EUR 15 billion or 4.4% of the total cohesion policy budget
> Absorption challenge: administrative capacity; reprogramming.
•
2014-20020: ICT 1 of 11 thematic objectives (in line with EU2020)
> enhancing access to, and use and quality of, ICT
> but ICT is tranversal, so can be present in the other objectives
•
ERDF: ICT investment priority
> broadband; ICT products and services; ICT applications
> 1 in 4 concentration priorities
> infrastructure can be supported in more developed regions
•
Ex-ante conditionalities (to justify in partnership agreements): e-growth strategies, NGAs
•
EARDF can support ICT rural projects
•
Alignment with European semester: broadband in Country Specific Recommendations

25. Basics on current Cohesion Policy
Funds allocated to ICTs in 2007-13:
•over EUR 15 billion or 4.4% of the total cohesion policy budget.
•Shift in the investment priorities from infrastructure to support for
content development, both in the public sector (eHealth, eGovernment,
etc.) and for SMEs (eLearning, eBusiness, etc.)
Cohesion
Policy

26. Absorption rate as of 2012
72.9% 86.9% 47.5% 90.6% 42.9% 71.3% 78.4%
Services and
Services and
applications for
Telephone
applications for
Information and Information and
SMEs (eOther measures for
infrastructures
citizens (ecommunication communication
commerce,
improving access
(including
health, etechnologies
technologies
education and to and efficient use
broadband
government, e(...)
(TEN-ICT)
training,
of ICT by SMEs
networks)
learning, enetworking,
inclusion, etc.)
etc.)
10
11
12
13
14
15
ICT
Average

27. Calendar for partnership agreements & OPs
Partnership Agreement
alf
2nd h
3
of 201
General regulation adopted
Country / region specific
Operational programmes
Max 4 months
Partnership Agreement
Submitted (MS)
Max 3 months
Max 3 months
Observations by EC
European Territorial
Cooperation ("INTERREG")
programmes
RIS 3
All OPs incl. Ex-ante eval.
(except ETC) (MS)
Max 9 months
Max 1 month
Partnership Agreement
Adoption
Max 3 months
Observations by EC
ETC OPs (MS)
Max 3 months
Max 3 months
OP Adoption (EC)
in g
dy on-go
Is alrea
sis …
ormal ba
on an inf
Observations by EC
Max 3 months
ETC OP Adoption (EC)
27

28. sustainable
inclusive
Europe 2020
smart
Thematic objectives
1. Research and innovation
2. Information and Communication Technologies
3. Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises (SME)
4. Shift to a low-carbon economy
5. Climate change adaptation and risk management and
prevention
6. Environmental protection and resource efficiency
7. Sustainable transport and disposal of congestion on major
network infrastructure
8. Employment and support for labour mobility
9. Social inclusion and poverty reduction
10. Education, skills and lifelong learning
11. Increased institutional capacity and effectiveness of public
administration

29. Thematic concentration in Cohesion Policy
SME competitiveness
Energy
ment
ocure
lic pr vative
Pub
o
of inn ions
solut
ion
s
vat
es
nno
-i
sin
Eco
bu ls
e
w
Ne
d
mo
i
ursh
rene
ep
Entr skills
ls
kil
E-s
Smart Grids
Innovation
R&I
infrastructures
Public sector
Innovation
+admin. capacity
p
erce
mm
E-co
ov
E-g
n
me
e rn
t
ICT
Broadband
Human Capital
Skills
Mobility
ta
Da
en
Op
Re
rs
he
arc
se

30. Thematic concentration of the ERDF
Research and Innovation
SMEs competitiveness
60%
Energy efficiency and renewable energy
+ ICT access, quality and use
20%
Developed regions and
transition regions
Transition regions: 60 %
concentration (incl. 15% for
energy/renewables)
Concentration on
"two or
more of the
thematic
objectives 1, 2, 3
and 4"
6%
44%
Less developed regions
Flexibility (different regions present different needs)
Special arrangements for the previously convergence regions

31. Thematic Objective 2: Enhancing access to + use and
quality of, information and communication technologies
ERDF nvestment priorities under TO 2: Ex ante conditionalities:
a) diffusion of broadband and high
speed networks, supporting adoption
of emerging technologies and networks
for the digital economy
b) development of ICT products and
services, electronic commerce and
increased demand for ICT
c) strengthening the application of ICT for
eGovernment, eLearning, eInclusion
and eHealth
Next Generation Access
Plan
Strategic policy
framework for digital
growth (also in RIS3)

32. Ex-ante
conditionalities
Ex-ante conditionality N°2(2) for ICT infrastructure
Ex ante conditionality
2.2. Next Generation Network (NGN)
Infrastructure:
The existence of national and/or
regional NGN Plans which take
account of regional actions in order to
reach the Union high-speed Internet
access targets and promote
territorial cohesion, focusing on
areas where the market fails to
provide an open infrastructure at an
affordable cost and of a quality in line
with the EU competition and State aid
rules, and to provide accessible
services to vulnerable groups.
by:
ions
c at
EP
odifi
M
il +
Co u n
c
Criteria for fulfilment
A national or regional NGN Plan is in place that
contains:
– a plan of infrastructure investments based on an
economic analysis taking account of existing
private and public infrastructures and planned
investments;
– sustainable investment models that enhance
competition and provide access to open, affordable,
quality and future proof infrastructure and services;
– measures to stimulate private investment.

33. ESF; Horizon2020
•
Importance of ESF to support digital capacity:
>employment and mobility; better education; social inclusion; better public administration
•
October 2013 European Council dedicate to digital economy and innovation
“part of the European Structural and Investment Funds (2014-2020) should be used for
ICT education, support for retraining, and vocational education and training in ICT,
including through digital tools and content, in the context of the Youth Employment
Initiative”
•
Horizon 2020 for research and innovation; much on ICT

34. Grand Coalition
5 Policy Clusters

ICT TRAINING:
 Online ICT learning platforms
 Smart grid training, etc.

NEW LEARNING:
 Industry/education provider collabor.
 MOOC for secondary teachers

CERTIFICATION:
 Support roll-out of common
 eCompetences framework

MOBILITY:
 Launch mobility assistance services

AWARENESS RAISING:
 GetOnline Week

35. Europe 2020 priorities
Shared objectives and principles
ICT
−
−
ICT
ICT
ICT
ICT
ICT
−
−
−
−
−
Tackling Societal Challenges
Health, demographic change and wellbeing
Food security, sustainable agriculture and
the bio-based economy
Secure, clean and efficient energy
Smart, green and integrated transport
Climate action, resource efficiency and raw
materials
Inclusive, innovative and reflective
societies
Secure Societies
EIT
JRC
Simplified access
−
−
−
−
Creating Industrial Leadership and
Competitive Frameworks
− Leadership in enabling and industrial
technologies
−ICT
−Nanotech., Materials, Manuf. and
Processing
−Biotechnology
−Space
− Access to risk finance
− Innovation in SMEs
Excellence in the Science Base
Frontier research (ERC)
Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
Skills and career development (Marie Curie)
Research infrastructures
ICT
ICT
ICT
Common rules, toolkit of funding schemes
Dissemination & knowledge tranfer

36. Conclusions
•
Digital revolution; Europe cannot stay behind
> Remove barriers in the European space; towards a Digital Single Market
>Build European capacity: networks, data/ cloud, skills, R&D&I, industrial base…
•
Role for public sector ; European/ national/ local digital agendas
> Strategic guidance; mobilise stakeholders; combine tools (regulation, funding….)
> European orientations and targets (EU200 > DAE > EU semester; CSR); tools
> Regional action key (best adapted to local context needs and strengths)
•
Digital sector important per se but even more as enabler
> ICT supply > demand > impact
•
Increasing digital angle in all policies: regional, R&D, employment, education, industry…
•
Digital will remain priority in new EU legislature starting 2014; the future is digital…

37. Gracias
ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda
blogs.ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda
@DigitalAgendaEU
DigitalAgenda