On 6 December 2024, the European Union (EU) Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council will meet in Brussels to discuss the 2030 Digital Decade objectives in the light of recent technological developments, to endorse the Council Conclusions on the EU Cybersecurity Agency and the Council Conclusions on the White Paper "Meeting Europe's Digital Infrastructure Needs". Latvia will be represented at the Council meeting by Ilze Dambīte-Damberga, Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM).
The Council will discuss the need to review the Digital Decade objectives, maintaining Europe's leadership in technological innovation, the link between research, innovation and standardisation in new technologies, and the relevance of digital infrastructure objectives to environmental sustainability goals.
During the discussions, Latvia intends to note that the Digital Decade targets broadly cover the most important aspects of digital development, while supporting the need to review the Digital Decade targets in 2026. Several of the Digital Decade's target indicators, such as broadband last mile, digital literacy and digitisation of enterprises, are not making the expected progress and solutions need to be found to improve them. With the development of technologies such as 6G and artificial intelligence, the link between research, standardisation, innovation and the practical application of technology is crucial.
Similarly, Ilze Dambīte-Damberga, Parliamentary Secretary at the VARAM, intends to highlight that the digital transformation must also be consistent with the green course, ensuring a balance between technological development and environmental protection. The development of energy-efficient 6G networks, data centres and cloud solutions would help achieve climate neutrality by 2030. Reusing, repairing and recycling equipment would contribute to the transition towards a circular economy. Development of the most advanced data centre project to date in Latvia has started. It plans to transfer the heat generated by the centre's operations to a heating company and supply it to local residents for heating their homes. At the same time, the data centre's technological systems will include innovative cyber-security solutions and will be able to run powerful artificial intelligence equipment.
The Council is expected to approve Council conclusions on a White Paper on "Mastering Europe's Digital Infrastructure Needs", which falls within the remit of the Ministry of Transport, and on the EU Cyber Security Agency, which falls within the remit of the Ministry of Defence.
The final session of the Council meeting will also discuss a study on the future of the postal services sector. The Parliamentary Secretary of the VARAM will call on the Commission to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the market situation and the functioning of the Postal Services Directive. It is necessary to review the elements which do not meet the requirements of the modern market and limit the ability of Member States to adapt to new market developments. It is particularly important for Latvia to review the universal postal service obligations and ensure their economic sustainability.