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1. Multi-country projects shall facilitate achieving the general objectives and the digital targets.

2. Multi-country projects shall aim to achieve one or more of the following specific goals:

(a) improving the cooperation between the Union and the Member States and among the Member States in achieving the general objectives;

(b) reinforcing the Union’s technological excellence, leadership, innovation and industrial competitiveness in critical technologies, complementary technology combinations, and digital products, infrastructure and services that are essential for economic recovery and growth and for the security and safety of individuals;

(c) addressing strategic vulnerabilities and dependencies of the Union along the digital supply chains in order to enhance their resilience;

(d) increasing the availability, and promoting the best use, of safe digital solutions in areas of public interest and the private sector while observing the principles of technological neutrality;

(e) contributing to an inclusive and sustainable digital transformation of the economy and society that benefits all citizens and businesses, in particular SMEs, across the Union;

(f) promoting digital skills for citizens through education, training and life-long learning, with a focus on fostering gender-balanced participation in education and career opportunities. An indicative list of possible areas of activity in which multi-country projects addressing those specific objectives could be established is set out in the Annex.

3. A multi-country project shall involve the participation of at least three Member States.

4. Where appropriate, a Member State participating in a multi-country project may delegate the implementation of its part of that project to a region, in line with its national roadmap.

5. The Commission may, pursuant to Article 6(3) and Article 8(4), recommend that Member States propose a multi-country project or participate in a multi-country project meeting the requirements of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, taking into account progress in implementing the relevant national roadmaps. The Commission and the Member States may also undertake to set up, or join, a multi-country project as a joint commitment.