Metaverse: Europe's Digital Vision

European Vision for the Metaverse

The European Union is poised to make a significant impact on the development of the metaverse. With a global market value expected to exceed €800 billion by 2030, the metaverse presents an unparalleled opportunity for economic growth and societal transformation. Focused on people, interoperability and the implementation of European values, the EU’s strategic approach is paving the way for a responsible and inclusive metaverse ecosystem. Discover how the European Union plans to tap into this potential, shape the future of virtual worlds and drive innovation across sectors.

The European Union’s metaverse approach prioritizes people-centeredness, encouraging development in interconnected virtual worlds that are compatible with EU values and rights. Although the term Metaverse was initially considered, discussions led to the term being changed to virtual worlds that overlap with the concept of Web 4.0. This iteration of the internet envisions the integration of digital and physical elements, with enhanced human-machine interactions. Europe aims to develop smart city infrastructures using existing investments in other initiatives such as Destination Earth and Local Digital Twins and the European Digital Twin of the Ocean.

The official social media account of the EU Commission, X (formerly Twitter), has shared this topic. Click on the X icon to access the tweet.

The European Union (EU) is developing a new approach to the metaverse that will focus on putting people at the centre of interactive virtual worlds, driving development and implementing EU values and fundamental rights. This vision is part of the EU’s overall strategy for Web 4.0, which aims to integrate digital and real objects and environments and improve interactions between humans and machines. Instead of using the term metaverse, the EU will refer to these virtual worlds as Web 4.0. In order to understand the EU’s vision for Web 4.0, it is important to know that the EU has invested in initiatives such as Destination Earth and Local Digital Twins and the European Digital Twin of the Ocean.

The European Union is leading the way in virtual world development, with an estimated market value of €800 billion by 2030. The EU’s approach focuses on human-centered and interoperable virtual worlds that support development while respecting EU values and fundamental rights. The EU’s definition of Web 4.0 emphasizes the seamless integration of digital and real objects and the enrichment of human-machine interactions.

In line with the European vision, virtual worlds could lead the development of smart cities. The European Union is making significant investments in basic infrastructure through projects such as Destination Earth and Local Digital Twins and European Digital Twin of the Ocean. Focusing on infrastructure is an important step towards realizing the Metaverse vision.