The European Digital Decade has translated the strategic goals for 2030 directly into legislation and set a common trajectory for the member states. Slovakia is responding with a national plan that, for the first time, brings together all digital dimensions into a single framework, explains Ivan Liška from the Ministry of Informatization.
What the Digital Decade Brings
The political program Path to the Digital Decade was approved by the European Parliament and the Council in 2022. It is based on the Digital Compass and sets 2030 targets in four areas: digital skills and education, secure and sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation of businesses, and the digitalization of public services. The ambitions include, for example, at least 20 million ICT specialists, the first functional quantum computer in the Union, and a doubling of the number of European "unicorns".
It is not about each state fulfilling everything on its own, but about contributing to the common targets according to its own capabilities. Therefore, each member state is to prepare a national plan and set its trajectory—at what pace it will achieve the individual goals. The process includes discussions with the European Commission about appropriate ambition as well as adjustments to the plans.
How Progress Is Assessed and Where Slovakia Stands Today
Progress toward the goals is monitored by the annual State of the Digital Decade report, which the Commission publishes in June. It was preceded by the well-known DESI report—the Digital Economy and Society Index. So far, only one new report has been published, which sets the reference framework for the coming years.
According to it, Slovakia achieves its best results in digital skills and is relatively satisfactory in digital infrastructure. Our results are weaker in the digital transformation of businesses and in the digitalization of public administration. That is precisely where concrete measures will be needed to bring us closer to the EU’s expectations.
National Plan: Content, Process, and Next Steps
The national Digital Decade plan is the first umbrella document that brings together all four dimensions into a coherent framework. It maps the measures taken so far and adds new steps in individual areas, with the Ministry of Informatization working with stakeholders in working groups on its preparation since 1 June 2023. The plan also includes trajectories, that is, the pace at which we intend to achieve the goals, and provides for regular review—at least once every two years, ideally every year.
The draft plan was approved by the Government Council for the Single Digital Market and the Digitalization of Public Administration, and after consultations with the European Commission, negotiations are underway with the Ministry of Finance. The aim is to submit the document to the government for approval, although the scope of the required funding is still being specified. Success will depend on inter-ministerial cooperation and diligent implementation so that the measures translate into tangible progress.
