The EU wants to empower people to fully enjoy the opportunities that the digital transition is bringing. It has adopted a set of digital rights and principles that reflect EU values and promote a human-centric, secure and sustainable vision for the digital transformation. The Declaration also includes commitments for the EU and Member States to act in a number of digital matters.
The European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles was signed by the Presidents of the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council, reflecting the high level of political commitment of the EU and its Member States to promote and apply the rights and principles.
The Declaration builds notably on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and recalls most relevant rights in the digital transformation, such as the freedom of expression and information, data protection, and privacy. The digital rights and principles are also grounded in EU legislation and policies, making them very real and tangible for citizens.
With the Declaration, the EU and Member States commit to act and promote this human-centric vision of digital transformation both at home and on the international stage. The Commission monitors the application of digital rights and principles across the EU.
The principles are shaped around 6 themes:
- Putting people and their rights at the centre of the digital transformation
- Supporting solidarity and inclusion
- Ensuring freedom of choice online
- Fostering participation in the digital public space
- Increasing safety, security and empowerment of individuals (especially young people)
- Promoting the sustainability of the digital future
Read the full article to explore individual topics in greater depth.