UfM Regional Platform on Digital Economy and Internet Access

Digital transformation is reshaping social and economic life, creating opportunities for significant growth. However, addressing the substantial digital divide in both infrastructure and skills is essential to fully realize these benefits.

In 2023, over 90% of people in the EU accessed the internet weekly, yet only 56% had basic or above-basic digital skills. The EU aims to employ at least 20 million ICT specialists by 2030, ensuring balanced participation between men and women (EuroStat).

In the MENA region, widespread adoption of digital technologies could significantly boost economic growth, potentially increasing GDP per capita by at least 46% over the next 30 years and generating nearly $300 billion in economic gains in the first year alone (World Bank).

The UfM Regional Platform on Digital Economy and Internet Access, has been foreseen by the Ministerial Declaration on Digital Economy (2014) and its objective is the implementation of the Declaration, in order to remove the regional barriers in the digital sector such as: e-trust services including e-signatures, e-health, connectivity for research and education institutions, harmonization of digital economy-related legal frameworks, in particular telecommunications or open data.

The Platform gathers representatives of the relevant ministries and agencies of UfM Member States, together with international institutions and organizations of the field.

The Regional Platform prioritizes the digital transformation of our societies, focusing on enhancing digital skills, fostering a robust digital economy, and developing dynamic digital ecosystems. Its aim is to promote a green and equitable digitalization across the Mediterranean region. Additionally, the platform engages with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and blockchain to drive innovation and progress.

• UfM Ministerial on Digital Economy (Brussels, 30 September 2014)
• UfM renewed priorities of the 5^th UfM Regional Forum – November 2020/25^th anniversary of the Barcelona Process

• Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) ministerial declaration on digital economy (2014)
• UfM Roadmap for Action (2017)
• Outcome Document of the UfM Conference on Digital Transformation and Digital Skills for the Future (2019)
• UfM Co-Presidency Statement – Fifth UfM Regional Forum (2020)

• UfM Ministerial on Digital Economy (Brussels, 30 September 2014)
• UfM Conference on Digital Transformation and Digital Skills for the Future (Tallinn, 30 September 2019)

• Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT)
• Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

30 September 2014, Barcelona
Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministers in charge of the Digital Economy launch new digital cooperation initiatives

30 September 2019, Tallinn
UfM conference takes place in Tallinn to strengthen digital transformation and digital skills for the future

30 November and 1^st December 2021
UfM Practical educational Workshop on “e-governance” in Mauritania

29 and 30 September 2021
UfM Practical educational Workshop on “e-governance” in Palestine

22 February 2021, Algiers
UfM hosted the first workshop on sharing best practices on e-governance with Algeria

15-16 November 2023, Cairo
UfM holds workshop on enhancing the digital transformation in Egypt

18 December 2023, Tangier
UfM conference fosters game-changing digital transformation in the Euro-Mediterranean region

• UfM Grant Scheme for the Promotion of Inclusive Digital Trade
• Second edition of the UfM Progress Report on Regional Integration (due in 2025)