Members of the CoR today called for the 'digital' dimension to become a key pillar of cohesion policy and proposed measures to address the digital divide being faced across Europe, especially in islands, mountainous and cross-border regions.
The opinion on 'Digital Cohesion' was prepared by Gaetano Armao, Vice-President of the Region of Sicily. Addressing members of the CoR in Brussels, Armao said "We have the opportunity to have a twin green-digital transition. We can't have one without the other. This is crucial for Europe's economic recovery". Armao's opinion outlines that while technology is a key tool to help us adapt to challenging situations affecting all spheres of society, the prominent role of digital technology in responding and building resilience to COVID-19 has highlighted shortcomings in digital infrastructure and literacy.
Armao's opinion also points out that the pandemic also augmented the 'digital divide' (the different levels of access and use of information and communication technologies and, more specifically, to the gaps in access and use of internet-based digital services). The rapporteur highlighted that the digital divide impacts services provided at the local level including in the healthcare and education sectors.
Armao stressed that digital cohesion must address the reasons behind the growing digital divide across the Union. "If we have islands, mountainous regions and cross-border regions without adequate digital infrastructure we will create division. So we need quality infrastructure across all regions." Armao, who also serves as Chair of the Interregional Group on Insular Regions referred to the European Parliament's report on 'Islands and cohesion policy: current situation and future challenges' and said "We must not forget about the specificities of islands and the challenges they face including the added cost of insularity. The digital transition is essential for islands and to ensure that nobody is left behind. After all equality and solidarity form the basis of what we believe in Europe."
The opinion calls for measures to avoid brain drain to be put in place and for remote working (under fair conditions), to be part of the solution, in particular for disadvantaged areas. It also stresses the need to support SMEs in digitalization. Furthermore, it proposes measures to monitor and measure digital divides to inform necessary policy actions.
Next steps: The opinion will be adopted in the October CoR plenary session.