On the page of this site titled, ‘Why do we need a connected digital single market’, there is a grid listing six areas that such a digital single market could involve. It contains: trust and confidence; removing restrictions; access and connectivity; digital economy; e-Society; and innovation & research. Each of these areas will be key to building a strong digital single market, but each of these areas can also be held back substantially if more is not done to address the new digital divide of those with skills, and those without.

There has been a digital divide for a long time. Originally it was between those who had access to technology and those who did not. Recently, with cheaper and ever more available technology, from smartphones to laptops, tablets, and everything in between, the divide is increasingly between those who have the skills to use this technology productively, and those who only have skills to use technology for ‘lifestyle’ activities such as using social networks or watching online TV. Highlighting this problem, the Austrian Computer Society, OCG, did a study last year that revealed that 61% of participants had IT skills rated as ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’. Statistics across all EU countries also show a stark disparity in levels of digital competencies between Member States.

The solution to this problem, which would clear a major obstacle to getting the most out of the investments in infrastructure and the policy efforts to break down restrictions between Member States, is simple: invest in skills.

A digitally skilled population will have the confidence to understand how to protect personal data online; it will have the ability to take advantage of broadband infrastructure to its fullest; it will have the understanding of how to get the most from doing business online; it will benefit from efficiencies in government services through e-government initiatives; and it will be able to drive forward Europe’s future as a home of high-skilled, high-quality jobs.

Investing in the digital skills of all people in Europe, but in particular in the digital skills of young people, using programmes such as ECDL, which was started as an EU-supported project, is the way to guarantee that the EU becomes a truly connected digital single market. Fail to tackle the digital skills divide, and investments and efforts elsewhere will not reach their full potential, and Europe will risk falling behind.