Luxembourg Commits to Green Digital Infrastructure

On Friday 19 March 2021, the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) organised together with the European Commission the 4th edition of “Digital Day”.

This high-level video conference brought together European policymakers and representatives of the digital private sector to discuss the topics of connectivity, green digital infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for startups.

As in previous years, the event was accompanied by solemn signatures of several political declarations in favour of the digital transformation of European societies. In this context, Luxembourg once again demonstrated its sense of European cooperation and ambition in the digital field.

Luxembourg's Prime Minister and Minister for Communications and Media, Xavier Bettel, thus signed the following joint declarations:

- European Data Gateways: A flagship initiative of the Portuguese Presidency, the Declaration on "European Data Gateways" aims to increase Europe's international connectivity to make it a hub for the flow of data on a global scale. By recalling the importance of complementarity between terrestrial infrastructures, in particular submarine cables and satellite networks, the signatories undertake to support the development of these infrastructures to strengthen Europe's connection with the rest of the world.

- A Green and Digital Transformation of the EU: In line with the priorities of the European Commission of a green and digital transition of the European continent, the signatory states of the Declaration on the Green and Digital Transformation have sent a strong message in favour of the increased use of smart and above all clean digital technologies to support climate action and environmental sustainability at the European level. By accelerating the deployment of cutting-edge digital technologies, the co-signatories are committed to facilitating the ecological transition to achieve climate neutrality.

- EU Startup Nations Standard of Excellence: a statement on promoting an EU standard for startups aims to create an enabling environment in Europe for European businesses in the start-up and expansion phase. In this context, the signatory countries undertake to facilitate the exchange of good practices and to monitor the evolution of the European startup ecosystem.