[CYPRUS TIMES] The challenges of the digital era highlighted by Hatzigiannis at a conference of EU parliaments

The challenges arising from the new digital era were highlighted by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism Kyriakos Hatzigiannis, who participated online in the Conference of the Chairmen of the Committees of the National Parliaments and the European Parliament responsible for the Digital Space and Space, organized in the framework of the current French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

According to a statement by the Parliament, in his intervention during a debate on "What the future holds for the European digital cultural industries", Mr. Hatzigiannis said that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of digital technologies in the cultural industries, creating new markets, networks, methods and choices for artists, as well as new opportunities for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. Hatzigianni highlighted the challenges emerging from the new digital era, such as shortages in terms of infrastructure, capital, human or technical resources in businesses, but also shortages in digital skills and necessary tools, as well as the inability of a significant proportion of citizens to access the internet. He also highlighted data-related risks, such as the possibility of data misuse by artificial intelligence algorithms, the leakage of personal data, censorship, as well as ownership and intellectual property protection issues.

The Cypriot MEP stressed that in order to address these challenges, the adoption and implementation of relevant legislation and policies is necessary. He stressed that artists and cultural organisations should be supported through specialised funding programmes, training and technological tools to assist the digital transition, while allowing new markets to become more viable.

Specifically for Cyprus, Hatzigiannis noted that significant steps are being taken to address these challenges in the framework of the National Digital Strategy 2025 and the National Plan for Digital Capabilities 2021-2025 of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. At the same time, he noted that targeted actions are being implemented to promote the cultural sector.

Cultural and creative industries, the Cypriot MP underlined, are fundamental to support sustainable development, as culture shapes the identity and diversity of peoples. Free access to cultural data can contribute to the preservation and development of cultural heritage through creativity and innovation in the digital space, he concluded.

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