2026 State of the Digital Decade report warns EU must close structural digital gaps
The 2026 State of the Digital Decade report shows progress on connectivity, digital public services, and AI adoption, but warns that Europe still faces gaps in semiconductors, cybersecurity, computing capacity, and ICT skills.
The European Commission has published its fourth State of the Digital Decade report, assessing the EU’s progress towards its 2030 digital transformation targets.
The report finds that Europe has made progress in several areas, including connectivity, digital public services, business digitalisation, and basic digital skills. However, the Commission says the main challenge is now delivering results faster, at larger scale, and more consistently across member states.
Basic 5G coverage now reaches 96.8% of EU households. Business use of advanced digital tools is also rising. According to the report, 46.7% of EU enterprises use cloud computing, 39.9% use data analytics, and nearly 20% use AI. AI adoption by businesses rose by 48% in 2025 compared with the previous year.
The report also says more than 60% of Europeans now have at least basic digital skills.
Major gaps remain. The EU accounts for only 9% of the global semiconductor market, far below its 2030 target of 20%. Computing capacity also remains below demand, even though edge node deployment is on track.
Cybersecurity is another weak point. The Commission says Europe remains structurally dependent on non-EU cybersecurity suppliers, while European companies are still underrepresented among global cybersecurity leaders.
The report also points to a shortage of ICT specialists. They made up only 5% of total employment in 2025, compared with the EU’s 2030 target of 10%. Women accounted for less than 20% of employed ICT specialists, with no improvement compared with 2024.
Small and medium-sized enterprises continue to face barriers in adopting advanced technologies. These include limited access to data, skills shortages, integration difficulties, and resource constraints.
A Special Eurobarometer survey published alongside the report shows strong public support for EU digital policy. Seventy-nine percent of Europeans said digital policy should be a top EU priority. Eighty-five percent supported investment in EU-developed digital infrastructure, and 82% backed reducing dependence on technologies from third countries.
The survey also shows rising concern about online risks. Ninety-two percent of respondents want stronger protection for children online, while 87% said online manipulation, including disinformation, deepfakes, AI-generated content, and foreign interference, threatens democracy.
The Commission is calling on member states to update their National Digital Decade Roadmaps with concrete measures. Initial discussions will take place at the Digital Day and Digital Decade Board meeting in Nicosia on 18 and 19 June 2026. The Commission will review the Digital Decade targets in 2027.
