1. JOINING FORCES: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION FOR EUROPE’S RESILIENCEIn just a year, the COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the role and perception ofdigitalisation in our societies and economies, and accelerated its pace. Digital technologies arenow imperative for working, learning, entertaining, socialising, shopping and accessingeverything from health services to culture. It has also shown the decisive role that disruptiveinnovation can play1. The pandemic has also exposed the vulnerabilities of our digital space,its dependencies on non-European technologies, and the impact of disinformation on ourdemocratic societies.

In the light of these challenges, our stated ambition is more relevant than ever: to pursuedigital policies that empower people and businesses to seize a human centred, sustainable andmore prosperous digital future.