The digital transformation in the European public sector organisations is well under way and picking up speed. It is changing the ways in which governments operate, services are provided, and knowledge and value are generated. The public sector is inevitably being required to address the growing complexity of challenges and the increasing demands of citizens, who expect more empathetic, flexible, agile and innovative services that respond to their specific needs and wishes. 

To understand the complexity behind the interplays between EU policy objectives and the realities and the context on the ground, we need data. However, there are very few harmonised and comparable indicators being collected or produced that cover the local level across the bloc. Much of the current monitoring of digital transformation is carried out only at regional or national levels only. For instance, the level and progress of Europe’s digital performance are measured regularly, but only at the Member State level. A strategic and targeted approach to monitor and measure what is happening at local and regional levels is still largely missing.

This report seeks to partially address this knowledge gap by utilising LORDIMAS data to provide insight into the state of digital maturity of subnational public administrations. 2024 marks the first full year of LORDIMAS data collection, encompassing data from approximately one hundred local, metropolitan, and regional governments. 
It's important to note that the LORDIMAS 2024 sample predominantly comprises mid-sized and larger cities, which are often more actively engaged in international projects and networks related to digital transition. Hence, there is a certain level of self-selection bias built into the sample. Additionally, participation rate varied across countries and is not geographically balanced. These factors should be considered when interpreting the findings of this report.