Cities and regions are at the heart of Europe’s digital transformation. They connect EU ambitions with citizens’ daily lives, serve as testbeds for innovation, and help bridge territorial gaps in digitalisation. This workshop will explore how stronger local and regional involvement can make the Digital Decade more inclusive, effective, and responsive to real needs on the ground. The Digital Decade Policy Programme (DDPP) is the key framework for steering and coordinating the EU’s digital transformation. With the 2026 Digital Decade Review approaching, now is the right moment to discuss how cities and regions can participate more efficiently in the effort to achieve the Digital Decade targets and objectives.
The workshop will open with Member States representatives sharing concrete experiences and practices on how national and regional authorities contribute to and shape the DDPP governance framework. A second panel will bring together municipal authorities, local actors and industry stakeholders to discuss challenges to stronger local participation, highlight success stories and showcase best practices for multi-level cooperation. The discussion will also connect to ongoing EU–local cooperation initiatives, including the newly established Citiverse EDIC, which helps cities in developing digital twins and sharing innovation for sustainable urban development projects.
An interactive session will then invite participants to contribute ideas through a live survey, identifying key barriers and priority actions to deepen local involvement in the Digital Decade. Finally, this workshop will promote engagement in the official consultation process for the 2026 DDPP Review, ensuring that local insights inform the future of the Digital Decade. As part of the consultation process for the Review, inputs will be collected through:
- A short targeted questionnaire for cities and regions
- The Call for Evidence on 'Have Your Say’, as the main channel for formal and open contributions
Draft agenda
Moderation: DG CNECT B2
Introduction & context (15 min)
Eric Peters (DG CNECT B2) – Presentation of the Digital Decade, its targets and objectives, the Review process, and its local dimension.
Panel 1 – Member States’ insights (40 min)
Italy and Austria representatives share views on how some national authorities are currently involving cities and regions in Digital Decade governance and coordination.
o Mariachiara Fortuna – Head of Planning and Observatory at the Department of Digital Transformation, Italy
o Lisa Präauer – Legal Officer at the Department of Digitalisation and E-Government - EU and International Affairs, Federal Chancellery, Austria
Panel 2 – Local actors’ perspectives (50 min)
Eurocities, CEMR, and cities including Bordeaux, Sofia, and the VNG association for Dutch Municipalities, highlight local contributions, obstacles, and proposals for stronger multilevel cooperation.
o Chiara Venturini – Head of Digital Transformation and Economic Development at Eurocities
o Federica Bordelot – Director of Policy and Impact at the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
o Sophie Woodville – Digital Project Manager, Bordeaux Métropole, France, Chairman of Eurocities’s Digital Forum
o Sophie van Velzen – Digital Strategic Advisor for the Dutch Association of Municipalities
o Ivan Goychev – Deputy Mayor for Digitalisation, innovations and economic development, City of Sofia (Bulgaria). Co-chair of Living-in.eu’s Digital Assembly
Coffee break (15 min)
Panel 3 – Solutions and accelerators (40 min)
CitiVERSE EDIC, DG CNECT (AI for Societal Good), Connect Europe, and the European Committee of the Regions showcase practical tools, data-sharing mechanisms, and partnerships that support local delivery.
o Maarit Palovirta – Deputy Director General of Connect Europe
o Marek Bobis – Policy Officer at European Committee of the Regions
o Jan Wester – LDT CitiVERSE EDIC Director
o Helen Köpman – Deputy Head of Unit, AI for Societal Good at the European Commission
Interactive session (30 min)
Live Slido poll on governance, funding, and coordination priorities for stronger local involvement.
Wrap-up & next steps (20 min)
DG REGIO and DG CNECT summarise key takeaways, next steps, and links with the upcoming policy agenda for cities, the 2026 DDPP Review and the Call for Evidence.