Halfway Through the Digital Decade: European Commission Publishes 2025 Report

According to the Report on the Implementation of the Digital Decade Policy Programme, the Republic of Croatia has shown significant progress this year.

ZAGREB, 1 July 2025 - The European Commission (EC) has published the Report on the Implementation of the Digital Decade Policy Programme (DDPP). The DDPP is a binding governance framework through which the European Union (EU) aims to ensure competitiveness and resilience, reduce excessive dependence on third-country resources and products, and strengthen technological sovereignty. Through annual DDPP implementation reports, the EU monitors its digital targets, aligns initiatives via Member States’ national plans, and enhances joint investments.

The DDPP covers strategic priorities related to digital infrastructure, digital skills, the digitalisation of business, and the digitalisation of public services. These priorities are achieved through a variety of measures set out in the national DDPP implementation plans, whereby each Member State contributes to the EU’s collective progress.

This year’s report for the Republic of Croatia (RC) highlights notable progress in the technology sector; however, further efforts are required to fully embrace and utilise advanced technologies, particularly in the area of digital literacy. Progress has been especially marked in the fields of quantum communication, semiconductors, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.

The annual increase in overall coverage by very high-capacity networks (VHCN), including in rural areas, has significantly exceeded the EU average. With an overall VHCN coverage rate of 78.93 per cent, Croatia has come close to the EU average of 82.49 per cent. This progress is largely due to the completion of EU co-financed network construction.

5G network coverage (94.20 per cent) is also steadily increasing and keeping pace with the EU average (94.35 per cent), with rural coverage even surpassing the EU average. In order to meet EU targets, further efforts are required to promote the deployment of standalone 5G networks and to extend coverage through the use of the 3.4-3.8 GHz frequency band in rural areas.

This report demonstrates that the measures implemented thus far in the area of connectivity have been successful and that, halfway through the decade, Croatia is well on track to meet—or even exceed—the EU average. It is therefore essential to continue implementing the measures set out in the national Digital Decade Policy Programme “The Path to the Digital Decade 2030”, in which HAKOM is involved as one of the competent authorities.

The full report is available on the official website of the European Commission.