President von der Leyen at the 2021 Digital Assembly
Yesterday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen took part in the opening session of the 2021 Digital Assembly, which this year takes place under the motto ‘Leading the Digital Decade’. Referring to the Digital Compass, the Commission’s vision for Europe’s digital transformation by 2030, the President outlined the four priorities that guide our action: “Our European strategy has four cardinal points: Digital skills, Infrastructures, Businesses, and e-Government. To master the challenges of the digital age we must make progress on all four fronts.” President von der Leyen also talked about the Commission’s upcoming e-identity proposal as a way to ensure trust, protect users online, and offer an alternative to the models of big online platforms. On global cooperation and the way forward, the President emphasised that Europe’s digital leadership also depends on strong connectivity with the rest of the world: “We are determined to live up to our principles at home, and in our work on the international scene. As Europeans, we want to be the global leader of a digital transformation that puts people at its heart.” The full speech is available online, and you can watch it here. More information on the Digital Assembly is available here.