BAKGRUNN (fra kommisjonsbeslutningen)

(1) Decision (EU) 2022/2481 empowers the Commission to set up European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (hereinafter referred to as ‘EDICs’).

(2) On 14 June 2023, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Croatia and Slovenia submitted to the Commission an application in accordance with Article 14(1) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481 to set up the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium for European Blockchain Partnership and European Blockchain Service Infrastructure (EUROPEUM-EDIC). Luxembourg, Romania, Greece and Cyprus joined the group of Member States making that application on 7 September 2023, 30 October 2023, 31 January 2024 and 5 April 2024, respectively.

(3) As the host Member State, Belgium has provided a declaration in accordance with Article 14(1)(d) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481 recognising the EUROPEUM-EDIC as an international body within the meaning of Article 143(1), point (g) and Article 151(1), point (b) of Council Directive 2006/112/EC (2) and as an international organisation within the meaning of Article 11(1), point (b) of Council Directive (EU) 2020/262 (3), from the date of its setting up.

(4) The Commission has assessed the application pursuant to Article 14(2) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481. It has concluded that the application contains all elements required in accordance with Article 14(1) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481. Taking into account general objectives of the Digital Decade Policy Programme, notably the contribution of the proposed EDIC to the development of a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem of interoperable digital infrastructures, and practical considerations related to the implementation of the multi-country project, in particular its technical, financial, administrative capacity of the proposed EDIC, the Commission concluded that the EDIC meets all the specific requirements laid down in Articles 13 to 21 of Decision (EU) 2022/2481 are met.

(5) In accordance with the Statutes, the EDIC is expected to establish and operate the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure to deliver Union-wide cross-border services, in particular public services. It should in addition support cross-border cooperation between public authorities on decentralised technologies and facilitate the interoperability of solutions based on such decentralised technologies.

(6) In accordance with Article 14(3) of Decision (EU) 2022/2481, the committee setup under Article 23(1) of that Decision has been consulted for its opinion on the setting-up of the EUROPEUM-EDIC and delivered a favourable opinion on 6 May 2024.

(7) In order to allow for the prompt application of the measures provided for in this Decision, namely the start of the operation of EUROPEUM-EDIC, which is urgently necessary for the orderly transition from present implementation arrangements, this Decision should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,