The "Digital decade" of the European Union: developments and impacts on citizens and economy

The European Union (EU) is an organisation in continuous evolution since its creation in the middle of the 20th century. Its ability to adapt to the needs generated by the integration process is commendable. The EU has overcome imposing obstacles, such as the crisis derived from the rejection of the European Defence Community and the European Political Union, the active opposition of a political titan such as French President de Gaulle, various economic and monetary crises, the Brexit and the rise of populism. The EU has consistently overcome the crises that affected it by introducing common stabilising elements introduced by the integration process, creating more Europe. The EU is currently facing new challenges, the adaptation to the outstanding technological progress that will influence the prevailing model of society in the coming decades. Faced with this task, the EU wants to create a Digital Single Market for Europe, among other initiatives, which will obviously have a substantial influence on economic relations between its members and also internationally. This research focuses on the analysis of European developments around the digital environment and its influence on the own essence of the organisation.