There is a risk of losing competitiveness on the global scale, and thereby squandering opportunities for economic growth and social development. At the end of December 2012, the European Commission therefore adopted seven new priorities for 2013/2014 with regard to the digital economy and society.
Since the Digital Agenda for Europe was adopted in 2010 as an integral part of the Europe 2020 strategy, the number of new Internet users has increased by 15 million in Europe. 68 percent of EU citizens regularly go online, 170 million are active in social networks. Internet traffic is doubling every 2 to 3 years. More than 4 million people in many sectors in Europe have an ICT workplace, and their number annually increases by a further 3 percent.
The full VdTÜV paper can be downloaded below.