Key obstacles in the digital transformation
The Flemish Parliament wants to have an influence on European policies and is therefore contributing to a project of the Committee of the Regions to involve regional parliaments in European decision-making. Within this framework, the Liaison Agency Flanders-Europe (VLEVA) was tasked with asking its members what difficulties they experience in terms of digitisation.
Obstacles
The survey was completed by 21 VLEVA members. Blue Cluster also participated by questioning its members and compiling that input. All findings have been bundled by VLEVA. Below, we go over some of the key obstacles that emerged from the survey.
Digital (basic) skills
- There is no clear European definition of digital (basic) skills
- There is a need for knowledge disclosure and a good implementation of infrastructure and tools
- We should also consider more advanced digital technologies
Obstacles for companies
- Companies have no way of getting low-threshold answers to their questions
- Insufficient attention is paid to the unpredictability of research and implementation of digital technologies
- Social and cultural organisations are insufficiently taken into account
Digital public services
- Online service must be accessible and inclusive
- The various policy levels should be better aligned
- There needs to be more harmonisation on a European level
Excellent and safe connectivity
- Good connectivity goes hand in hand with good infrastructure
More scientific research into the safety and health aspects is essential for a rapid and efficient roll-out of 5G
Modern data processing capabilities
- Organisations don’t have the right skills to work with data
- GDPR rules put a brake on digital transformation and data sharing
- There is a great need for European cloud platform services
Europe's digital decade
The survey also shows that the participants are satisfied with the ambitious objectives the European Commission is pursuing within the framework of the Digital Decade. However, one of the reservations expressed is that sufficient budgetary resources will also have to be made available to make it all happen.
