2020: A new, fully digitalized Europe?

May 19^th 2010 the European Commission released a new strategy titled Digital Agenda for Europe 2010-2020. they described it as:

the Digital Agenda is Europe's strategy for a flourishing digital economy by 2020. It outlines policies and actions to maximise the benefit of the Digital Revolution for all. To achieve these goals, the Commission will work closely with national governments, concerned organisations and companies. An annual Digital Assembly will bring stakeholders together to assess progress and emerging challenges.

The new agenda outlines 7 priority areas:

1. A new Single Market to deliver the benefits of the digital era: The Commission intends to open up access to legal online content by simplifying copyright clearance, management and crossborder licensing. Other actions include making electronic payments and invoicing easier and simplifying online dispute resolution.

2. Improve ICT standard-setting and interoperability: Enabling ICT products and services to be open and interoperable.

3. Enhance trust and security: Since a lot of people have trust and safety issues regarding online shopping and the like, the EU tries to overcome this barrier by actions that could also potentially oblige website operators to inform their users about security breaches affecting their personal data.

4. Increase Europeans' access to fast and ultra fast Internet: The 2020 target is internet speeds of 30 Mbps or above for all European citizens, with half European households subscribing to connections of 100Mbps or higher.

5. Boost cutting-edge research and innovation in ICT: Europe must invest more in R&D and ensure our best ideas reach the market. EU investment in ICT research is less than half US levels (€37 billion compared to €88 billion in 2007).

6. Empower all Europeans with digital skills and accessible online services: Over half of Europeans (250 million) use the Internet every day, but another 30% have never used it. Everyone is entitled to the knowledge and skills they need to be part of the digital era since commerce, public, social and health services, etc. is increasingly moving online.

7. Unleash the potential of ICT to benefit society: We need to invest in smart use of technology and the exploitation of information to seek solutions to reduce energy consumption, support aging citizens, empower patients and improve online access for people with disabilities. One aim would be that by 2015 patients could have access to their online medical records wherever they were in the EU.

Delivering the Digital Strategy for Europe: Ensuring rapid adoption and implementation of the measures necessary to meet the above objectives is the main goal.

All this sound good, but firstly, I think that ten-year period will not suffice. Adoption of digital technologies takes time and despite notable progress in the recent years, I do not think this goal will be achieved.

Secondly, they are dealing with several different areas at a time instead of ensuring high speed Internet connections first and then moving on to R&D, ICTs, etc. I cannot imagine how the use of ICTs can be optimized or progress made in R&D if the technological aspects are not properly addressed. So primarily they should ensure high speed Internet connection for everyone and secondarily deal with tools adoption.

Thirdly, I am very suspicious of the online market part. A lot of people do not trust shopping or providing (personal) data online and their attitudes cannot be changed over night. So I am really curious how they are planning to overcome this issue, Bessel I am not sure crossborder licensing will be enough.