Athens, 3 March 2022

Hellenic Parliament Event on Digital Transformation in framework of Conference on the Future of Europe

Transition to a digital future, perspectives, challenges and risks, was the theme of the event held by the Hellenic Parliament in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe and specifically the Working Group on Digital Transformation, -of which the late MP Marietta Giannakou was a member-. The event was attended online by citizens and school students from all over Greece, providing them with the opportunity to ask questions to the participants.

In his introductory speech, the Chair Mr. Dimitris Kairidis, referred to digital transformation's horizontal nature as affecting most areas of citizens' lives, but also to citizens’ concerns regarding access or exclusion of some groups from digital services, and as to whether digital transition will benefit societies after all. This very need for digital transition to be human-centred and secure citizens' personal data was emphasised by the European Commission Executive Vice-President for A Europe fit for the Digital Age MargretheVestager in the framework of her analysis of the European Commission’s immediate plans. Mrs. Vestager stressed that funds provided by the Resilience and Recovery Plan will help countries in this transition process, and congratulated our country over its Plan submitted, anticipating funding of 7 billion for infrastructure and training, as well as over the European COVID Green Pass initiative.

The Minister for Digital Government Kyriakos Pierrakakis referred, among other things, to difficulties encountered by our country, but also to the great steps of progress achieved via small changes, yet having major impact on citizens’ lives, moreover stressing that events often function as a catalyst for change and leaps. Both the Greek Minister and the Commission Executive Vice-President answered citizens’ and students’questions on Europe’s digital integration following the covid pass model, on emerging possibilities and risks from the use of cryptocurrencies, the need for teacher training and investing in technological school equipment, upgrading networks, but also internet security.

The second section of the event took place in the form of a round table moderated by journalist Alexia Koulouris. The European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili, the Member of Parliament for SYRIZA and Sectoral Head of Digital Governance Marios Katsis and the Secretary General for Research and Innovation Athanasios Kyriazis answered questions from the journalist, but also from citizens, on various issues, such as cyber and data security and relevant European Parliament legislative arrangements, innovation, digital entrepreneurship and start-up companies, digital skills education and training, working conditions and employment rights in the digital age, business and university interconnection and inclusion of all social groups in the new, digital future.

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