The sudden geopolitical instability generated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has exposed Europe to its weaknesses, including in the area of the EU’s digital policies. In an address to the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age, Margrethe Vestager, ECR President Marco Marsilio called for "rethinking our common actions to defend our digital sovereignty".

The risk of cyberattacks is real and would throw us into the depths of a "digital pandemic that would have serious consequences for public administrations and citizens", highlighted Mr Marsilio. In addition to carrying out stress tests on IT infrastructure, the way forward is "investing in secure digitisation that increases links between Member States in order to optimise the quality of public services", stated the Abruzzo Region President Marsilio. 

Building Europe’s strategic and political independence relies on innovation in the public sector. Not only would services be improved for citizens, but new "business opportunities for companies and technology startups at Member State level would also be created", he pointed out. 

Mr Marsilio was speaking on behalf of the ECR Group in the CoR plenary session.