Balkan states unite at Digital Summit to tackle digital transformation hurdles

Government officials, industry leaders, and digital experts from the Balkan states convened in Sarajevo for the sixth annual Western Balkan Digital Summit on October 4 and 5. The summit, addressing challenges hindering the region’s digital transformation and fostering collaboration, drew attention to issues such as a shortage of digitally skilled labor, infrastructure gaps, and limited access to digital government services.

A significant concern highlighted was the internet shortage plaguing Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has severe repercussions for more than 500 primary and secondary schools.

Key figures, including Roberto Viola from the European Commission and Germany’s Digital State Secretary Stefan Schnorr, stressed the need to strengthen digital infrastructure, bolster cybersecurity, and drive digital entrepreneurship to spur economic growth in the region. The summit also underlined the commitment to cooperate with other areas, combat cybersecurity threats, and protect privacy, reflecting the Balkans’ determination to embrace the digital age.

Why does it matter?

Although the EU’s Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans launched in 2018, they still face major digitalization problems like insufficient skilled workers and old technology. While the EU’s recent €2.1 billion investment in 14 Western Balkan projects, with one project focused on assisting SMEs in their digital shift, is promising, it represents just one facet of the challenge. The extent to which it can comprehensively tackle the region’s digital divide remains uncertain.