ITU Office For Europe - United Nations Brussels Team Task Force on Digitalization for the SDGs

• Share information, intelligence, and analysis of key EU policy proposals and actions on digital issues flagging the most recent updates at the EU and international level;
  
• Agree on common positions on EU's proposals and actions on digital issues and advocate as “One UN" in a coordinated and effective manner to push Agenda 2030 further at the EU level;
• Create opportunities to engage with EU partners on the global dimensions of digital for development and create synergies among UN agencies to determine how we can contribute to the formulation and implementation of digital-related policies;
• Determine commonalities in the scope of work of UN agencies for coordination and possible joint action.​
  

• Join regular meetings (once a month) to facilitate a common understanding and ensure information sharing and interaction with development partners with particular emphasis on maximizing synergies, coordinating, and, where possible, jointly undertaking activities;
  
• Develop joint declarations that will reflect common positions to advocate as “One UN" when engaging and influencing EU policy-making;
• Contribute to EC open public consultations on digital matters and submit common letters to voice the UN  position in consultation processes;
• Identify innovative ways to use the Digital TF as a platform for policy dialogue with development partners;
• Coordinate with other Task Forces to collaborate on cross-cutting topics, e.g. Digital and Africa;
• Join forces with the EU to advocate together for shared objectives in various international events;
• Jointly contribute to the discussions in respective Council working groups and in the European Parliament.
  

ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2021

​All papers can be provided on demand. Please submit your request to the ITU Europe Office at eurregion@itu.int

​UN Brussels Team Paper on Digitalization for the SDGs​ This paper presents an overview of UN specialized agencies, funds, programmes and other entities' support for inclusive digital transformation for the SDGs. It has been ela borated in the spirit of alignment and the building of international partnerships and guided by the SG's Roadmap on Digital Cooperation; It is structured around the cardinal points of the EU's digital compass and within t​​he scope of fundamental rights and principles.

​​Annex 1. UN Agencies' Flagship initiatives and project Annex 1 presents the efforts of the UN in driving the digital transformation in line with the core pillars of the EU Digital Compass. Each initiative is ongoing, has the potential for scalability, and is either country-based, regional, or global in scope. This list is not exhaustive and more information on other UN Agencies' initiatives and activities can be provided upon request

​Annex 2. United Nations Global Processes & For a related to Digitalization 2021-2022​ Annex 2. is a background living document that provides an overview of the United Nations Processes and Fora related to digitalization taking place in 2021 and 2022. It identifies the link of each forum/ process with the Digital Strategy of the European Union, the “EU Digital Compass". ​

​​EU public consultation on the Digital Principles A joint contribution to the EU Public Consultation on the Digital Principles was submitted on behalf of the TF on 02/09. The UNBT/TF on digitalization for the SDGs proposed principles for the 8 areas of the consultation: Access to internet service;​ ​Digital education and skills necessary for people to take an active part in society and in democratic processes; Human-centric digital public services and administration; Digital health services; Secure and trusted online environment; Digital systems and devices that respect the environment; The protection and empowerment of children and young people in the online space Ethical principles for human centric algorithms​​​

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​ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2022

EU-UN 'Digital Thematic dialogues'​ The Task Force, together with the EU, is organizing a series of EU-UN 'Digital Thematic dialogues', to be held every quarter of the year, in particular on: 'Human rights and gender', 'Education', 'AI', and 'Disinformation'. The objective of these series of dialogues will be to express views on how to concretely collaborate in these areas, support each other in enabling inclusive, resilient and sustainable digital societies, as well as brief the EU on the ongoing work of the UN, and vice versa, in order to keep a cohesive approach towards alignment of strategies. The dialogues will also provide an opportunity to showcase ongoing work and best practices from both the UN and the EU sides in specific areas of interest. The first dialogue on 'Human rights and gender' is held in September and included the participation of INTPA, EEAS, CNECT, and the D4D Hub, among others.

​Side Event on the “Open Internet for Inclusive and Resilient Human-centred Digital Partnerships”  On the occasion of the EU-AU Summit, on the 17th of February 2022, an official Side Event has been organized jo intly by the AU-EU-UN on the “Open Internet for Inclusive and Resilient Human-Centered Digital Partnerships". More information and recording of the event can be found here.

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