Time to build a European digital ecosystem

Despite its role as the frontrunner in regulating Big Tech, through regulations as the Digital Services and Markets Act (DSA and DMA) and the AI Act, the European Union is at a crossroads in its digital transformation. Geopolitical tensions and growing reliance on foreign tech giants underscore the urgent need for greater technological sovereignty.

In this expert lunch roundtable, we will explore the key recommendations from our policy study ‘Time to build a European ecosystem’, which outlines the critical steps the EU must take to reduce digital dependencies and create a resilient, autonomous, and socially inclusive digital framework. The study underscores the importance of enforcing existing digital regulations and creating a European Digital Industrial Policy (EDIP) to drive innovation and secure European values.

The new European Commission will need to ensure that digital gatekeepers such as Google and Meta comply with existing legislation – and enforce them when needed. Key recommendations for the new Commission include the creation of a unified digital industrial strategy, which encompasses the development of a ‘EuroStack’ – a European technology framework integrating hardware, infrastructure, AI, data, and governance.

Achieving digital sovereignty requires a strategic overhaul. Legislative measures must go hand in hand with capacity building to advance a digital future that reflects European values of fairness, sustainability, and innovation.

For more information regarding this event, please do not hesitate to contact Gerard Rinse Oosterwijk, Policy Analyst on Digital (gerard.oosterwijk@feps-europe.eu)