Article 8

1. The Commission and the Member States shall cooperate with each other closely to identify ways to address deficiencies in areas where progress in achieving one or more of the digital targets is regarded to be insufficient by the Commission and the Member States or where significant gaps and shortages have been identified on the basis of the results of the Report on the Digital Decade. That analysis shall take into account, in particular, the various capacities of Member States to contribute to achieving some of the digital targets and the risk that delays in achieving certain of those targets may have a detrimental effect on the achievement of other digital targets. 2. Within 2 months of the publication of the Report on the Digital Decade, the Commission and the Member States shall endeavour to discuss the Member State’s preliminary observations, in particular as regards policies, measures and actions recommended by the Commission in its report. 3. Within 5 months of the publication of the second Report on the Digital Decade and every second year thereafter, the Member States concerned shall submit to the Commission adjustments to their national roadmaps consisting of policies, measures and actions they intend to undertake, including, where relevant, proposals for multi-country projects, to foster progress in achieving the general objectives and the areas concerned by the digital targets. If a Member State considers that no action is required and that its national roadmap does not require updating, it shall provide its reasons to the Commission. 4. At any point during cooperation pursuant to this Article, the Commission and Member States, or at least two Member States, may make joint commitments, consult other Member States on policies, measures or actions, or establish multi-country projects. Such joint commitments may be made by the Commission and one or more Member States or by at least two Member States. Such multi-country projects shall involve the participation of at least three Member States, in accordance with Article 10. Member States may also request that a peer review process be launched regarding specific aspects of their policies, measures or actions, and in particular regarding the suitability of those policies, measures or actions to contribute to achieving a specific digital target, as well as to meet the obligations and carry out the tasks provided for in this Decision. The outcome of the peer review process may be included in the following Report on the Digital Decade, if the Member State concerned agrees. 5. The Commission shall inform Member States about the recommended policies, measures and actions it intends to include in the Report on the Digital Decade before the publication of the report. 6. The Commission and the Member States shall cooperate with each other closely in order to meet the obligations and carry out the tasks provided for in this Decision. To that end, each Member State may initiate a dialogue, either with the Commission, or with the Commission and the other Member States, on any subject relevant to achieving the general objectives and the digital targets. The Commission shall provide all appropriate technical assistance services and expertise, and shall organise a structured exchange of information and of best practices and shall facilitate coordination. 7. In the event of a significant or continuous deviation from the national projected trajectories, the Commission or the Member State concerned may initiate a structured dialogue with each other. The structured dialogue shall be based on a specific analysis of how such a deviation could affect the collective achieving of the general objectives and the digital targets, in view of the evidence and data in the Report on the Digital Decade. The aim of the structured dialogue shall be to provide guidance and support the Member State concerned in identifying the appropriate adjustments to its national roadmap or any other necessary measures. The structured dialogue shall result in mutually agreed conclusions, which shall be taken into account in the follow-up actions to be taken by the Member State concerned. The Commission shall duly inform the European Parliament and the Council about the structured dialogue process and shall present to them the mutually agreed conclusions.

← art_7__para_7 · All articles · art_8__para_1 →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-08 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.