The pandemic and lockdowns have shown how much we depend on digital technology, from remote working to online medical consultations to video calls with family and friends. However, the pandemic has also highlighted the gap between the digital ‘haves’ and ‘have nots.’ More than 40% of Europeans have no basic digital skills and almost a quarter of homes have no broadband. Fewer than 20% of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) use internet cloud services or use the internet to sell their products or services. In 2020, the European Commission released the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) results, which show Europe's overall digital performance and track the progress in digital competitiveness of EU countries. The transition to a digital world is a key element in the EU’s pandemic recovery plan. At the heart of the plan is the €672.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility that will be spent on public investments and reforms. To access the money, Member States have submitted national recovery plans earmarking 20% of the money for initiatives to digitise their economies. To make sure everyone benefits, the EU wants to see investment in ultra-fast broadband, in training people in digital skills, in helping start-ups and small businesses innovate and grow, and in using technology to become climate neutral. Paolo Gentiloni, the European Commissioner for Economy, says that as in the US, the goal in Europe is to "build back better" after the pandemic and that digital concerns "all sectors of our economy." According to the Commissioner, “you can improve through digital how the public administration works, how the healthcare system works, how companies are competitive and working. This is the strength of the investment in digital that they can have an impact on all our economy." He adds that "we have to seize the opportunity to reduce and cancel the digital divide. It's now or never."