European Business Summits
info@ebsummit.eu – 0032 (0) 2 645 34 80
TRANSPARENCY REGISTER 268958411031-65
PRIVACY-POLICY | GENERAL TERMS OF SALES

The programme will be updated regularly
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
9:25 – 9:30
Arnaud Thysen
Director General, European Business Summits
9:30 – 9:45
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.
Ivan Bartos
Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization, Czech Republic
Bruno Liebhaberg
Director General, CERRE
9:45 – 10:45
Eva Kaili
Vice President of the European Parliament
Bruno Liebhaberg
Director General, CERRE
10h15 – 11h00
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.
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
11:00 – 12:00
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.
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
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.
Maryam Mujica
Vice President for Public Policy, Shopify
Moderated by:
Dave Keating
France 24 Correspondent
14:00 – 15:20
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
European Business Summits
info@ebsummit.eu – 0032 (0) 2 645 34 80
TRANSPARENCY REGISTER 268958411031-65
PRIVACY-POLICY | GENERAL TERMS OF SALES
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