The Granada Declaration on the new Digital Agenda was adopted on 19 April 2010 by the European Union's Ministers responsible for Telecommunications and Information Society under the Chairmanship of the Spanish Minister for Industry, Tourism and Trade, Miguel Sebastián.

With the European Union's (EU) main challenges being the economic recovery and increasing its global competitiveness in the Digital Economy, the Ministers believe that the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can play a major role in the economic growth, employment, sustainability and social integration.

All Member States agree that the EU requires a new Digital Strategy based on the latest technologies and the implementation of the Society of Information and Knowledge.

The Granada Ministerial Declaration includes the core elements to obtain a genuinely innovating, sustainable and inclusive digital society and economy. It considers that the future Digital Strategy should be based on the following central themes:

• Infrastructures;
• Advanced use of the open Internet, security and trust;
• User rights;
• Digital Single Market;
• Digital Public Services;
• Strengthening the Competitiveness of Europe's ICT sector;
• International dimension of the Digital Agenda;
• Benchmarking Information Society.

Furthermore, the Ministers consider that measures should be adopted to meet the target of 100 % coverage of basic broadband for all citizens by 2013 and to promote the wide adoption of high speed broadband by 2020.

The Declaration also states that the competitiveness of Europe's ICT sector must be strengthened through further research, development and innovation - by better adapting the programmes for the companies of the sector, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

As for digital public services, the Ministers stress that they should promote the reuse of public sector information, which will in turn increase the efficiency of the government and reduce the administrative burdens on citizens and businesses.

The Granada Ministerial Declaration will be a milestone of the Digital Agenda and it will contribute to the consolidation of Europe's technological leadership, whose effects are expected to reach citizens, businesses and the civil service.

Further information:

• Official Press Release - Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade - eu2010.es
• The Granada Ministerial Declaration on the European Digital Agenda