EU DIGITAL SUMMIT
2023 EDITION

PROGRAMME
21 june 2023

The programme will be updated regularly

OPENING SESSION - DIGITAL DECADE: IS THE EU ON THE RIGHT PATH?

The Commission recently presented new initiatives to transform the connectivity sector, including the ‘Gigabit Infrastructure Act’, which aims at answering the growing demand for more bandwith. But infrastructure is only one part of the answer. Fostering innovation, boosting citizens’ and workers’ skills as well as created a safe ecosystem are also crucial to accomplish the digital transformation succesfully, and while leaving no one behind.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW EU PLATFORM LAWS?

The newly adopted DSA and DMA need to be implemented in an effective and proportionate manner. By disclosing their EU user-counts, large online platforms have taken the first step towards strengthening their accountability. They will also shortly be subject to more stringent rules.

  • How are the different stakeholders preparing for implementation?
  • What should the Commission care about?
  • What are the right processes to be set up?
  • How will success be measured?

HOW TO BUILD A SINGLE DATA MARKET?

Data is the new infrastructure for innovation and therefore ensuring the free movement of data remains fundamental in an interconnected global tech market. The von der Leyen Commission took many initiatives to build a single market for data, with the Data Governance Act, the Data Act, and the common European data spaces. The EU’s data strategy aims to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty and boost economic growth and innovation. However, the question of how to turn the idea of digital sovereignty into a digital breakthrough in Europe remains. 

  • Will the EU’s data laws deliver?
  • How will the new legislation be able to complement existing legislation on data (i.e. GDPR, Open datadirective, the DMA, Free flow of non-personal data regulation)? Is there a risk of creating legal fragmentation?
  • What is further needed to increase data-based innovation in Europe and beyond?
  • How to strike the right balance between data-sharing and protecting users’ privacy and security?

GLOBAL DIGITAL PARTNERSHIPS

States around the world are willing to take back control of the cyberspace with new rules and standards. However, digital services are inherently global and therefore, it is key that those new regulations and their enforcement are coordinated at the global level.

  • How should such coordination be set up?
  • Which institutions should obtain this mandate?
  • Can the EU lead by example?
  • Which international partnerships, such as transatlantic collaboration should be built?

HARNESSING THE POWER OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

ChatGPT’s raise to popularity undoubtedly highlighted the increasingly large part Artificial Intelligence plays in our daily lives, from social media to medical devices or customer services, and in industries such as agriculture With the AI act still under negotiations between the Council and Parliament, the definition of AI, the scope of the regulation and what counts as a high-risk area is still being decided.

  • Can the AI Act set international standards?
  • What should be classified as high-risk use of AI?
  • How to strike the right balance between innovation and safety?
  • Will the AI Liability Directive offer sufficient protection?

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT: TOWARDS A CIRCULAR TECH INDUSTRY

ICT has been recognised as a vital enabler of greater efficiency and sustainability across sectors such as energy, transport, housing and agriculture. However, some policymakers and civil society organisations are expressing concern that the environmental footprint and energy consumption of the ICT sector itself may undermine gains made elsewhere. EU legislative initiatives such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and the recently proposed “Right to Repair” Directive aim to tackle this issue at the product level, while other recent proposals also aim to improve the environmental footprint of facilities such as data centres. Additionally, consumer voices are also calling for, in addition to sustainable product design and recyclability, increased durability across the board.

  • How is  the EU trying to promote circularity across the ICT supply chain?
  • Beyond existing proposals, what other policy and/or corporate initiatives are need to ensure full-lifecycle sustainability of digital products and services?
  • What will be the impact of other cross-sector initiatives designed to protect consumers, e.g. “Green Claims” directive?

CYBERSECURITY IN THE EU: STRATEGIES FOR A RESILIENT ECOSYSTEM

Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, frequent and impactful, and pose a significant threat to the EU’s critical infrastructure, businesses, and citizens. Furthermore, the EU’s dependence on foreign technologies is raising concern for its own cybersecurity and has resulted in restrictions in some instances. As data breaches and cybercrime increase, the EU will have to further reinforce its commitment to protecting the privacy and personal data of its citizens.

  • What to expect from the EU’s Cyber Solidarity Act?
  • Have the EU Cyber Security Act and other measures delivered?
  • How to make the EU more resilient?

HOW TO FUND CONNECTIVITY INFRASTRUCTURE?

There are claims that the current generation of networks are not ready for the ongoing digital transformation – encompassing technologies like connected cars or smart cities. The Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) will put forward new rules to enable faster, cheaper, and more effective networks. There is also a need to develop smarter and faster services to drive demand for these networks, including new cloud, data, AI, and VR technologies.

  • What financing model can match the investment needs?
  • Who should participate to the cost of their access and use of the networks?

9:25 – 9:30

Welcoming words

Arnaud Thysen
Director General, European Business Summits

9:30 – 9:45

Plenary Session – Opening UP THE DIGITAL ecosystems

Regulation of digital is key to create a competitive, sustainable, and resilient European economy. Adapting to the digital age while shaping it holds many challenges and opportunities for stakeholders.

    • What is the European Union’s vision and strategy for the digital ecosystem?
    • How will the EU open up platforms, secure access to data, enforce interoperability and portability and, at the same time, foster innovation?
 

Ivan Bartos
Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization, Czech Republic

Bruno Liebhaberg
Director General, CERRE

9:45 – 10:45

Fireside chat – EU values in digital: which way ahead?

    • What is the European Parliament’s vision and strategy for the digital ecosystem, from AI to cryptocurrencies and cybersecurity?
    • How will the EU regulate new digital technologies, in a way that safeguards both innovation and consumers?

Eva Kaili
Vice President of the European Parliament

Bruno Liebhaberg
Director General, CERRE

10h15 – 11h00

DMA – Everything is in the enforcement

The recently adopted Digital Markets Act (DMA) establishes a set of criteria defining so-called “gatekeepers” in order to regulate digital markets and rein in abuses of dominant positions. The Act’s implementation will be critical and particularly complex.

    • How will the European Commission prepare internally and drive the creation of a compliance and enforcement ecosystem across the Union?
    • Where will the necessary dialogue with business and other stakeholders take place?

Alberto Bacchiega
Director for Information, Communication & Media, DG COMP

Damien Gerard
Prosecutor General, Belgian Competition Authority

Amelia Fletcher
Research Fellow, CERRE, and Professor of Competition Policy, Norwich Business School

Moderated by:
Javier Espinoza
Financial Times Correspondent

10:45 – 11:00

COFFEE BREAK

11:00 – 12:00

Is there a future for the transatlantic tech partnership?

The transatlantic relationship will be crucial to developing the EU’s digital agenda. The arrival of the Biden administration has allowed to relaunch the EU-US collaboration, however significant challenges remain.

    • Can the EU and the US align behind shared objectives and initiatives?

Gerard de Graaf
Director for Digital Transformation, DG CONNECT

Bernd Lange
Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the INTA Committee

Eric Loeb
Executive Vice President for Government Affairs, Salesforce

Bruno Liebhaberg
Director General, CERRE

Moderated by: 
Javier Espinoza
Financial Times Correspondent

12:00 – 13:00

Fireside chat: The digitalisation of SME's

Entrepreneurship plays an important role in the economy as a driver of innovation, job creation and economic growth. Therefore, everyone should have the opportunity to start a business. This requires the creation of inclusive entrepreneurship policies, in order to increase awareness, build motivations and most importantly address market, institutional or behavioural failures that disproportionately affect people in under-represented and disadvantaged groups.

    • How to make entrepreneurship more inclusive and accessible to all?
    • What are the policies needed?
    • What role can digitalisation and new technologies play?

Maryam Mujica
Vice President for Public Policy, Shopify

Moderated by: 
Dave Keating
France 24 Correspondent

14:00 – 15:20

Are standards a new geopolitical tool?

Standardisation is key to maximise the interoperability of systems and devices, and thereby ensures that markets remain open. On a global level, it can boost open collaboration between the EU and its partners, for instance in the development of 6G. However, standards are more and more politicized. Illustrating the geostrategic dimension of the digital world, they have become strategic issues.

    • How can we develop an approach that allows good governance and innovation without being captured by strategic interests?

Elena Santiago Cid
Director General, CEN CENELEC

Michael Eslamian
Vice President & Corporate Officer, Standardization & Industry Development Europe, Huawei Technologies

Pierre Larouche
Research Fellow, CERRE, and Professor of Competition Law, University of Montréal

Moderated by:
Jennifer Baker
EU Tech Reporter

15:20 – 15:40

Are standards a new geopolitical tool?

Standardisation is key to maximise the interoperability of systems and devices, and thereby ensures that markets remain open. On a global level, it can boost open collaboration between the EU and its partners, for instance in the development of 6G. However, standards are more and more politicized. Illustrating the geostrategic dimension of the digital world, they have become strategic issues.

    • How can we develop an approach that allows good governance and innovation without being captured by strategic interests?

Elena Santiago Cid
Director General, CEN CENELEC

Michael Eslamian
Vice President & Corporate Officer, Standardization & Industry Development Europe, Huawei Technologies

Pierre Larouche
Research Fellow, CERRE, and Professor of Competition Law, University of Montréal

Moderated by:
Jennifer Baker
EU Tech Reporter

15:40 – 16:00

Are standards a new geopolitical tool?

Standardisation is key to maximise the interoperability of systems and devices, and thereby ensures that markets remain open. On a global level, it can boost open collaboration between the EU and its partners, for instance in the development of 6G. However, standards are more and more politicized. Illustrating the geostrategic dimension of the digital world, they have become strategic issues.

    • How can we develop an approach that allows good governance and innovation without being captured by strategic interests?

Elena Santiago Cid
Director General, CEN CENELEC

Michael Eslamian
Vice President & Corporate Officer, Standardization & Industry Development Europe, Huawei Technologies

Pierre Larouche
Research Fellow, CERRE, and Professor of Competition Law, University of Montréal

Moderated by:
Jennifer Baker
EU Tech Reporter

Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved.