Summary
The European Commission amended the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) work programme 2025–2027 on 19 March 2026. The amendment is the second since the 2025–2027 cycle began; the first was adopted in October 2025. The stated purpose is to align the programme with updated Commission political priorities and respond to developments in digital technology.
The overall DIGITAL programme budget for 2021–2027 is over €8.1 billion. The 2025–2027 work programme allocates a reported €1.3 billion across digital skills, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Key Changes Introduced
- Testing and Experimentation Facilities for AI: The amendment ensures continued implementation of TEFs across EU Member States, which allow companies to test AI systems against real-world conditions before deployment.
- Digital infrastructure for schools: A new action strand to fund digital infrastructure in school settings across the EU.
- Safer Internet Centres: A new call introduced to expand geographic coverage of internet safety resources across EU and associated countries; the associated action targets cyberbullying under the EU Action Plan against Online Harm.
- European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format: Continued deployment of the EEHRxF across national health systems.
- Multi-country European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDICs): A new work strand to strengthen collaboration between existing EDICs.
AI and Skills Components
The amendment reinforces the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) network with an explicit AI focus. The Commission selected 83 EDIHs in October 2025 to renew and extend geographic coverage across EU Member States and associated countries.
EDIHs are tasked with delivering practical AI courses for both technical and non-technical learners, spanning multiple industry sectors. This forms part of the 2025 AI Continent Action Plan, which positions EDIHs as primary national delivery points for AI skills uptake by businesses and public bodies.
Additional funded strands in the work programme include:
- ELEVATE: European League of Advanced Digital Skills Academies, funding advanced technical training programmes in AI and related fields.
- European Advanced Digital Skills Competitions: Practical skills assessment and recognition at EU level.
- Excellence in higher education and training programmes: Calls for proposals targeting universities and training institutions to deliver curricula in key digital areas.
A call under identifier DIGITAL-2026-AI-09 (AI Continent) was listed as forthcoming, with the next round of calls expected to open in the second half of April 2026.
Relevance to AI Literacy Gap
The amendment continues a pattern in EU funding policy of treating AI skills as an infrastructure question rather than a rights or equity question. The EDIH network is explicitly designed to serve businesses and public administrations; provision for individual citizens, workers outside formal employment, or populations with low baseline digital literacy is not a stated objective of this work programme amendment.
The Safer Internet and digital schools components address younger users but focus on safety and access rather than AI comprehension or critical engagement with AI systems.
There is no provision in this amendment that corresponds to the Article 4 AI Act obligation requiring Member States to ensure AI literacy among workers who interact with AI systems. That obligation sits with Member States individually; the DIGITAL programme funds infrastructure and institutional capacity, not direct individual entitlement.