Shaping Europe’s digital present and future

November 28, 2025

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Open Access Government offers an update on the EU’s policy priorities for shaping Europe’s digital landscape and future

The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect) focuses on shaping Europe’s digital present and future. Their mission is to fund, support, and regulate digital and frontier technologies to strengthen democracy, enhance safety, increase competitiveness, and ensure technological sovereignty in Europe.

DG Connect enforces European regulations for online platforms, digital markets, and artificial intelligence (AI). They aim to have Europe lead in AI innovation, unlock the potential of data, enhance digital infrastructure and connectivity, and promote digital skills. Their goal is to achieve European independence in strategic digital technologies. The leadership of DG Connect includes Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Director-General Roberto Viola. ⁽¹⁾

In her role overseeing digital and frontier technologies, Executive Vice-President Virkkunen leads Europe’s efforts to shape a competitive and inclusive digital future and maintain leadership in strategic digital technologies. This includes guiding progress towards the 2030 Digital Decade targets and enhancing innovation in AI by collaborating with Member States, industry, and civil society to develop an AI application strategy and establish a European AI Research Council. ⁽²⁾

The digital world should reflect European values of inclusivity, freedom, protection, and fairness. In Europe’s Digital Decade, the vision is that all will have the skills to use technology, and small businesses will leverage it for better decision-making and customer interaction. Connectivity will reach even remote areas, ensuring all can access online opportunities. Key public services will be available online for citizens and businesses.⁽³⁾

EU digital rules and new digital wallets

Notably, the European Commission’s new digital package will significantly reduce administrative work for businesses, enabling them to focus on innovation and growth. This initiative includes a digital omnibus to streamline regulations on AI, data and cybersecurity alongside a Data Union Strategy to improve data access and European Business Wallets to simplify operations across EU Member States.

These measures aim to save businesses up to €5 billion in administrative costs by 2029 and potentially unlock an additional €150 billion in annual savings. The Commission also launched a consultation on the Digital Fitness Check, open until 11th March 2026, to evaluate the effectiveness and coherence of the EU’s digital rules.

“By cutting red tape, simplifying EU laws, opening access to data and introducing a common European Business Wallet we are giving space for innovation to happen and to be marketed in Europe. This is being done in the European way: by making sure that fundamental rights of users remain fully protected, Executive Vice-President Virkkunen said. ⁽⁴⁾

Accelerating AI adoption in European industry and science

Countries worldwide are competing to harness AI’s potential. On 8th October 2025, the European Commission introduced two strategies to keep Europe at the forefront of AI: the Apply AI Strategy and the AI in Science Strategy.

The Apply AI Strategy focuses on accelerating AI integration in key industries and public services, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. It aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and facilitate AI adoption across various sectors. The AI in Science Strategy aims to advance AI-driven research and position Europe as a leader in this field.

The EU is well positioned to enhance the use of AI in key sectors and scientific fields, thanks to its robust AI infrastructure, skilled workforce, dynamic research and innovation ecosystem, and thriving startups. Additionally, Europe’s tradition of collaborative science, along with its high-quality data and world-class research and technology infrastructures, further supports this advancement.

“Europe is well positioned to become an AI continent. With the Apply AI Strategy, we will help our companies and key sectors, from manufacturing to healthcare and the public sector, use AI to deliver real benefits for EU citizens, reinforce our competitiveness, and strengthen our technological sovereignty,” Executive Vice-President Virkkunen commented. ⁽⁵⁾

‘Resource for AI Science in Europe’ launched

On 3rd November 2025, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva launched RAISE – the Resource for Artificial Intelligence Science in Europe. This virtual institute, part of the Apply AI Strategy and the European Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Science, aims to gather resources for AI development to drive scientific breakthroughs in areas like cancer treatment and environmental issues. The pilot will be funded with €107 million under Horizon Europe.

RAISE will support the EU’s goals of prioritising science and technology, maintaining research leadership, promoting innovation for the benefit of humanity, and attracting global talent to Choose Europe. This initiative aims to enhance Europe’s competitiveness, drive innovation, and reinforce technological sovereignty.

To adapt to rapid changes in the AI science ecosystem, RAISE will be developed in phases, evolving with its partners and resources. Following the pilot phase launched in November 2025, the Commission will collaborate with EU Member States, research institutions, and the private sector to further develop RAISE under the next long-term EU budget for 2028-2034, ensuring its sustainability and effective governance. While we could say much more, Executive Vice-President Virkkunen sums up what RAISE is all about:

“In Europe, we are strongest when we join forces to pursue a common goal. This spirit of collaboration lies at the heart of the RAISE initiative, where leading scientists from across Europe bring together diverse disciplines and perspectives to conduct excellent research on and with AI”. (6)

Shaping Europe’s digital landscape

We express our sincere support for DG Connect as they diligently strive to shape Europe’s digital landscape, influencing both its present and future. This vital work includes their efforts to enforce European regulations concerning online platforms, digital markets, and the rapidly evolving field of AI. These ambitious policy objectives are clearly illustrated in the Commission’s newly introduced digital package, which acts as a crucial resource for advancing AI research and innovation across Europe.