4th December 2023
Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation today joined fellow D9+ ministers in Brussels today to discuss key trends in the digital economy and to formally accept Ireland’s chairmanship of the D9+ in 2024.
The D9+ brings together the top-ranked European countries in the European Commission annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), plus a small number of other countries who share similar ambitions for the Digital Single Market.
Speaking in Brussels today, Minister Calleary said:
“Since 2014, Ireland has consistently ranked among the leading Member States in the DESI Index to a leading position among the most digital advanced economies in the EU. If we are to maintain our digital frontrunner status, we must continue to invest and support all areas of our economy and public services to embrace digitalisation as part of the EU Digital Decade objectives.
“Our focus under the current Belgian chairmanship of the D9+ has been on how the D9+ can inform and assist the European digital agenda particularly across a number of key areas such as governance and competitiveness.
“As Ireland steps forward to take up the D9+ Presidency for the first half of 2024, we will be building on some of the themes raised and I look forward to formally announcing these details in the new year. I am determined that Ireland use the full six months that we hold the D9+ Chair to share our vision that an effective, coherent, and proportionate approach to digital regulation will lay a strong foundation for an innovative and thriving digital single market in Europe, and can indeed inspire other parts of the world to follow Europe’s example.”
He continued:
“We are making significant strides domestically to harness the benefits of digital transformation and advanced technologies in line with our ambitions under the National Digital Strategy. It is my priority for 2024 that we continue to support more businesses on their digital journey and will work across Government and our enterprise agencies to ensure our economy remains competitive and crucially resilient in the years ahead.”
Further information
About the D9+
The D9+ group is an informal alliance of Digital Ministers from the digital frontrunner EU Member States. It comprises top-ranked European countries in the European Commission annual Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), plus a small number of other countries who share similar ambitions for the Digital Single Market.
The Ministers generally meet twice a year to build on their collective strengths in advanced digital policy and to confront the challenges associated with and to influence EU digital policy.
About DESI Index
The European Commission has been monitoring Member States’ digital progress through the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) reports since 2014. As of 2023, and in line with the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, DESI is now integrated into the State of the Digital Decade report and used to monitor progress towards the digital targets.
This year, the European Commission has integrated DESI into the Digital Decade process and abolished the Member State ranking, but tracks Member States’ progress across each of the digital objectives across the four areas of infrastructure, skills, government and business.
For more information see: The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) | Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu)
About the Report on the State of the EU Digital Decade
The first State of the Digital Decade report takes stock of the EU’s progress towards a successful digital transformation as set out in the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030. The report highlights the need to accelerate and deepen collective efforts, including through policy measures and investment in digital technologies, skills and infrastructure.
For more information see: 2023 Report on the state of the Digital Decade | Shaping Europe’s digital future (europa.eu)
ENDS
Back to Department News