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What does it mean to live and govern effectively in a digital society? As digital technologies reshape public services, democratic participation and access to information, cities across Europe find that the challenge is no longer simply about connectivity or skills. It is about building a common digital culture.

This means that every person – schoolchildren, parents, seniors, elected officials or city administrations – has a genuine capacity to understand and navigate the digital world. They have the ability to distinguish reliable information from manipulation, to understand what data is, how it is collected and used, and to make choices about how they use data, rather than accepting what someone else has designed for them.

“We need to speak the language of everyone, using technology to improve the lives of our citizens, through transport or urban planning, and giving them a say in decisions that affect their lives and communities,” says Ivan Goychev, Deputy Mayor for Digitalisation and Information Systems at Sofia Municipality.

At the same time, rapid digitalisation is creating new pressures, with AI and online harms such as misinformation and privacy risks evolving quickly. Without a shared digital culture, decisions risk being left to a small technical elite, weakening democracy and human rights.

“There are powerful companies that are comfortable with citizens who feel they are not entitled to an opinion on digital matters,” warns Sophie Woodville, Digital Program Manager at Bordeaux Métropole and Eurocities Digital Forum Technical Chair. “A disengaged public allows technology to be rolled out without accountability and democratic debate.”

Against this backdrop, the city of Sofia is hosting the Eurocities Digital Forum 2026 this week, bringing together city leaders, policymakers and experts to explore how local governments can ensure digital transformation remains people-centred, inclusive and democratic.

Cities shaping the digital future

As digital platforms evolve, the safeguards that once helped protect users are weakening. Complex cybersecurity needs, challenges in the enforcement of European rules, and the rapid, often unchecked growth of AI are bringing digital rights into sharp focus. What might have once been seen as faraway risks – misinformation, online hate speech and threats to democratic norms – are now real challenges affecting communities across Europe.

Discussions during the opening session made it clear that cities must continue to act as proactive defenders of a common digital rights culture, ensuring that local policies align with, and contribute to, broader European commitments to human dignity and democratic resilience.

Johanna Laisaari, Deputy Mayor for Urban Environment for Helsinki and Vice Chair of the Eurocities Digital Forum, underlined the central role digitalisation now plays in city governance. “Digitalisation is the theme that cuts across everything we do in modern city governance,” said Laisaari, underlining its influence on services, participation, and everyday life.

She stated that “digital transformation must strengthen inclusion and protect fundamental rights,” particularly for those at risk of being left behind, and that European values such as fairness, trust and respect should guide how cities design and govern digital solutions.

André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities, explained that collaboration between cities is central to making progress. “If we pool our knowledge and our resources, we can do better,” he said, highlighting how cities can accelerate innovation by working together, sharing solutions and learning from one another.

This collaborative approach is already visible across Europe, with cities working jointly on projects, exchanging best practices, and developing common approaches to implementing digital public services in ways that reflect local realities while ensuring legal compliance.

As Sophie Woodville explained, “Through our work in the Eurocities Digital Forum, we are building solutions together, sharing what works, learning from each other, and helping cities apply EU legislation like the AI Act or the Data Act in ways that make sense for their citizens.”

From principles to practice

The EU’s Digital Decade vision sets out ambitious goals for a fully digital Europe by 2030, but it also brings practical challenges for cities, from closing the digital divide to managing the risks associated with AI and online threats.

Discussions highlighted how cities are turning these policies into practical action to improve people’s lives.

Tomas Lehtinen, Head of Data at the City of Helsinki, emphasised that digital transformation is not about quick fixes or chasing trends. “It is about building capabilities over time,” he said, describing how Helsinki’s approach has been built over decades through strong digital services, open data, and shared platforms.

This long-term approach has created a culture where data is actively used rather than stored, and where trust is central. Helsinki now runs between 30 and 50 artificial intelligence projects each year, many of them for applications classified as high-risk under the AI Act, requiring strong governance, clear rules and internal expertise to ensure responsible use.

Lehtinen also highlighted a shift from simply collecting data to embedding it in everyday decision-making and services. The key challenge now, he noted, is how to create value from data and scale solutions across large organisations.

Pavel Ivanov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Institute of Public Administration, urged cities to rethink their approach to digital transformation, particularly in the age of AI. “It’s not technology itself. We have to go beyond technology, remembering we are focusing on humans,” he said, arguing that the real challenge lies in how institutions evolve.

He stressed that while much attention is placed on tools, the key issue is institutional learning. “We’re talking about machine learning, but we’re not talking about institutional learning, which is much more important,” he said, warning that institutions are currently slower to adapt than individuals.

A shared European responsibility

The Digital Forum’s opening discussions showed that while cities are at the forefront of digital transformation, they cannot build and scale a common digital culture on their own.

Cities are uniquely positioned to act because of their proximity to residents and their role in delivering services. As André Sobczak noted, local governments are responsible for implementing 70% of EU legislation and are often the first to respond when people struggle with digital tools or are excluded from digital systems.

With negotiations currently taking place on the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, he stressed that cities need stronger and more consistent support from the EU institutions, not only in terms of funding and capacity building, but also stable policies and better coordination. “Without sustained investment, cities will struggle to scale solutions and maintain progress in digital transformation,” explained Sobczak.

At the same time, Sophie Woodville underlined that this is not just a technical or policy challenge, but a democratic one, requiring people to actively engage with digital systems rather than passively use them.

“A common digital culture means that every citizen has a genuine capacity to understand and to navigate the digital world. It is our role to ensure this happens in our cities,” she stated.

Overall, the discussions in Sofia highlighted that digitalisation is not just about technology; it is about democracy. Without a shared digital culture, people risk becoming passive users rather than active participants. With it, cities can help build a more inclusive, transparent and resilient digital future.

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The Eurocities Digital Forum 2026: ‘Fostering a People Centred Digital Tomorrow,’ hosted by Sofia Municipality, is taking place on 15-17 April 2026. The event provides cities with the opportunity to share best practices, strengthen their advocacy towards the EU institutions, and explore innovative digital governance models.

All the photos from the event can be found here.