EU values and citizens at the centre of digital transformation

Council, Parliament and Commission sign the European declaration on digital rights and principles for the digital decade.

To ensure that the EU reaches its objectives for a digital transformation in line with its values, the Council, the European Parliament, and the Commission signed today at the highest political level the European declaration on digital rights and principles for the digital decade.

Today, we commit to an inclusive, fair, safe and sustainable digital transformation that puts people in the centre. Preserving the core EU values online is as important as in the real world. The declaration will serve as a reference point for policy makers, businesses and other relevant actors when developing and deploying new technologies.

Petr Fiala, Czech Prime Minister

The declaration embeds, among others, references to digital sovereignty in an open manner, respect for fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy, inclusion, accessibility, equality, sustainability, resilience, security, improving quality of life, the availability of services and respect of everyone’s rights and aspirations. It should contribute to a dynamic, resource efficient, and fair economy and society in the EU.

The text recalls all pertinent rights in the context of the digital transformation and should serve as a reference point for businesses and other relevant actors when developing and deploying new technologies.

The declaration should also guide policy makers when reflecting on their vision of the digital transformation: putting people at the centre of digital transformation; supporting solidarity and inclusion, through connectivity, digital education, training and skills, fair and just working conditions, as well as access to digital services online; restating the importance of freedom of choice in interactions with algorithms and artificial intelligence systems and in a fair digital environment; fostering participation in the digital public space; increasing safety, security and empowerment in the digital environment, in particular for children and young people, while ensuring privacy and individual control over data; promoting sustainability.

The Council contributed to giving prominence to the international dimension, notably by promoting references to universal human rights in the chapeau of the declaration, also with a view to inspiring partners beyond the EU borders.

A balanced compromise is reflected on social aspects, such as by means of upholding workers' rights in relation to surveillance at the workplace, and through a commitment on combating forced labour.

Regarding privacy issues, the declaration states that citizens should be guaranteed the confidentiality of their communications and be protected against unlawful tracking or interception.

Finally, a common understanding on Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the workplace now ensures an alignment of the declaration with ongoing negotiations on the AI Act and with the directive on safety and health at work.

Background

The Commission’s communication "Digital compass 2030: a European way forward for the digital decade" of 9 March 2021 presented the vision for a digitally transformed Europe by 2030 in line with European values. The EU’s ambition is to be digitally sovereign in an open and interconnected world embracing empowered citizens and innovative businesses in a human-centred, inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable digital society.

In its conclusions of 25 March 2021, the European Council underlined the importance of digital transformation for EU’s growth, prosperity, security, and competitiveness, as well as for the well-being of our societies. It identified the communication on the digital compass as an important step towards mapping Europe’s digital development for the next decade. It invited the Commission to use all available instruments in the field of industrial, trade and competition policies. In light of these ambitions and challenges, the Commission proposed on 26 January 2022 a European declaration on digital rights and principles for the digital decade, as a follow-up to its communication of 9 March 2021.