 The pandemic has shown us the importance of the digital transition. From health services to education and sales, all sectors have been transformed over the past months. While EU policies seek to enable the digital transition, various challenges still exist across villages, cities and regions. Access to affordable and high quality broadband networks and services, particularly in remote and rural areas, is still work in progress. At the same time, the almost 24.5 million European small and medium-sized enterprises, employing two out of every three workers in the EU, are still lagging behind in terms of digital transition. Cities and regions are committed to do their part to support the switch to modern, functional, digital and green infrastructure in their communities. Regional and local leaders are at work to facilitate partnerships between the public, private, educational and non-profit sectors to implement programmes focusing on advanced digital skills and cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and high-performance computing. European policies and programmes need to reflect challenges on the ground by engaging local and regional authorities. The level of governance closest to the people and the level responsible for implementing 70% of EU legislation to address such challenges, facilitate the digital transition and open new horizons. Today's EPP Local Dialogue is an opportunity to discuss the status of the digital transition and the role digitalisation can play to ensure economic recovery through resilience, cities and regions.