In April 2015, the Minister of the Digital Agenda, Telecommunications and Postal Services presented the "Digital Belgium" action plan (a new federal digital plan is under development).
"Digital Belgium" is the action plan which sets out our country's long-term digital vision and breaks it down into clear objectives, with the aim of improving Belgium's position in the digital field.
Digital Belgium is based on 5 pillars:
- the digital economy;
- digital infrastructure;
- digital skills and jobs;
- trust in digital, and digital security;
- digital public authorities.
With a well-honed strategy and a sustained effort, our country must be able to achieve, by 2020:
- the digital top 3 in the Digital Economy and Society Index.
- 1,000 new start-ups,
- the digital revolution needs to create 50,000 new jobs in a whole range of sectors.
Background
As part of the European digital strategy, Belgium adopted a digital action plan in 2013 entitled "A Digital Agenda for Belgium".
This plan was the result of a fruitful collaboration between various Belgian institutional actors.
Encouraged by the FPS Economy, an initial blueprint was submitted to the sector regulator, the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications, and Fedict, the Federal Department in charge of e-government. The planned measures involve various competences falling within the scope of the federated entities. These entities were therefore consulted within the National Steering Committee for the monitoring and implementation of the European Digital Agenda, which was set up in 2011.
Representatives of the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Social Integration and the Fight against Poverty, as well as the Secretary of State for the Civil Service and the Modernisation of Public Services, also sit on the Steering Committee. The contributions from all members have made it possible to enrich this project, and give it a national character.
The Digital Agenda for Belgium was adopted on 6 November 2013 by the Consultative Committee, and was approved by all national public authorities.
In order to also involve the private sector, the then Minister of the Economy submitted this document for an opinion to the Consultative Committee for Telecommunications (CCT), the reference consultative body in this field, on 18 December 2013. The Committee gave its opinion on 24 February 2014.
A revised version, incorporating most of the remarks of the CCT, and several factual changes, has been drafted.
