On 18 June 2012, the European Commission published the main conclusions of its 2012 assessment of the digital agenda, looking at the progress achieved at European Union and national level in achieving a regulatory and business climate that will foster competition and investment in Europe’s digital technology markets. Of the 101 actions of the Digital Agenda (78 for EC and 23 for member States), 34 are complete, 52 are on track and 15 are delayed or at risk of delay.
The assessment's main conclusions are as follows:
1. Positive developments: 95% of Europeans have access to a fixed broadband connection; Mobile Internet take-up grew by 62% to 217 million mobile broadband subscriptions; for the first time a majority of economically disadvantaged Europeans have used the internet, but one in four Europeans have still never used the internet; Greece, Portugal and Ireland have turned to eGovernment, underlining the contribution of these technologies to successful structural reform.
2. Areas of concern: Half of European labour force lack sufficient information and communication technology (ICT) skills; Online shopping is still a national activity; Use of eCommerce by SMEs has stalled; Research investments are falling further behind Europe's competitors; Telecoms companies continue to rip-off consumers with mobile roaming prices
The information released by the EC includes specific data on different countries including Portugal.
Further information:
- Digital Agenda: Annual scoreboard confirms need for structural economic reform across Europe and surplus of ICT jobs; big trend towards mobile services and technology http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/614&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
