The report highlights both progress and critical challenges for public administration capabilities and services within the EU’s digital transformation.

While there have been advancements, significant gaps remain, particularly concerning digital skills, technological dependencies, and administrative complexity. The report notes steady progress in the digitalization of key public services in 2024. However, the dependency of governmental digital infrastructure from service providers outside the EU poses a risk to the EU’s technological sovereignty and economic security.

Another major challenge is the low level of basic digital skills among the population, with just over half of Europeans (55.6%) possessing them. This skills gap is compounded by a shortage of advanced ICT specialists, particularly in critical sectors like cybersecurity and AI, and a pronounced gender divide. This hinders progress in key areas of public service digitalization. [source]