European Business SummitOn 16 & 17 November 2020, over 6000 participants attended the European Business Summit 2020 edition titled “Rebooting the European Economy: Towards a green, digital and more resilient Europe“. Adapting to the pandemic, this edition was held under a virtual format that live-streamed 30 high-level panels and interactive interviews featuring over 60 high-level speakers from business, policy, civil society, and academia!
Among the highlights of the European Business Summit 2020 edition:
Executive Vice-President
for the European Green Deal
Executive Vice-President for Economy and Trade
Commissioner for Innovation and Youth
Special Advisor for Climate
Change Affairs (MEE) of China
Prime Minister of Belgium
European Vice-President
Commissioner for International Partnership
Vice-President for Values and Transparency
Commissioner for Justice
European Commissioner for Transport
Member of the European Parliament
Deputy Director-General, DG DEFIS
Senior Expert
Chief Executive
DG JUST Acting Director General
Director General
Professor of Information and Communication
Vice-President
Deputy Director-General DG ENV
Brussels Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal
DAY 1
08:40-08:45
Channel 1
Arnaud Thysen
Director General
European Business Summits
DAY 1
08:45-10:30
Channel 1
Xie Zhenhua
Special Advisor for Climate
Change Affairs (MEE) of China
LI Junfeng
First Director and Chairman of Academic Committee
National Center for Climate Change Strategy
and International Cooperation (NCSC)
Bernard M. Kemper
CEO
EEW Energy from Waste GMBH
Kjeld Stærk
Vice-President
Danfoss Group
He Yun
Assistant Professor
Hunan University’s School of Public Management
Isbrand Ho
Managing Director
BYD Europe B.V.
Raffaele Mauro Petriccione
Director-General DG CLIMA
European Commission
Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck
Founder & Director
Lie Detectors
Shada Islam
Founder of the New Horizons Project and
Brussels-based commentator and analyst
In September 2020, the European Union and China have agreed to establish a High-level Environment and Climate Dialogue to pursue ambitious joint commitments. This dialogue between these two global partners plays an essential role in preserving biodiversity, tackling climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Only by sitting at the table together we can achieve the goals set out by the #parisagreement”
Moreover, President Xi Jinping has reinforced the Chinese engagement on climate change by pledging to speed up reductions in emissions in China and to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. For its part, the European Union has increased its 2030 emission reduction targets to at least 55 percent up from 40 percent, and the Union aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. These common ambitious targets aim at accelerating the European and the Chinese industry transition to a sustainable model of inclusive growth. For achieving these objectives, it is now crucial to intensify the dialogue between the two partners to ensure smooth cooperation in working together to develop implementation plans.
These two high-level roundtables will offer the opportunity for European and Chinese policy makers and business representatives to discuss the achievement of their common goals. Which are the areas of greatest potential for EU-China climate action cooperation? How the EU and China will secure the required technological breakthroughs and large-scale investments? How can they help other actors, in particular developing countries, to support the green transition?
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Xie Zhenhua: #ClimateDialogue: “The USA plays a key-role in climate change governance and we look forward the USA to rejoin the Paris Agreement. EU countries have encountered many obstacles but have responded with a very positive leadership. There is a strong potential for cooperation between China and the EU.” / #GreenGrowth “China attaches great importance to the issue of coal power plants and no longer supports any projects that are related to it” / #GreenRecovery “Our goals are based on very firm foundations. China exceeded much of the goals that were planned for 2020” / Such as the #EUGreenDeal, we will strongly promote a transition in the industry sector #GreenBuildings #ElectricCars
Raffaele Mauro Petriccione: “How can we accelerate the #transition from coal to #RenewableEnergy? We first need to change the mindset, then #policies will follow. This view is not new in the #EU and the #Chinese general policy.”
Li Junfeng: #greentransition ” Historically speaking the #cooperation between China and EU is the most successful example”
BYD Managing Director, Isbrand Ho: Will #EU manufacturers be held back by China? “We have developed very solid partnerships in the EU creating opportunities & jobs./ China & the EU look forward to further develop their cooperation”
He Jijiang: If we work with Europe together on #PVstations will have a positive ecological impact. #China and #EU can perform a leadriship role./ #ClimateChange “We shouldn’t deprive young students of their future. Each individual has a role to play. The education of young students is crucial for them to be able to shape the future.”
He Yun:”We are looking forward to the friendly #PVstations race with the European partners.”
DAY 1
10:30-10:45
Channel 1
Alexander De Croo
Prime Minister of Belgium
Belgian Government
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Alexander De Croo: “#Vaccines and fast testing will be a part of a #containment strategy. We have become better at identifying risky behaviours. The #US and #Europe become incredibly powerful when they cooperate.”
DAY 1
10:45-11:45
Channel 1
Florika Fink-Hooijer
Director-General DG ENV
European Commission
Tim Brett
President of the Western Europe Unit
The Coca-Cola Company
Luc Bas
European Regional Director
IUCN
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
Natural capital is the world’s stock of natural resources, which includes geology, soils, air, water and all living organisms. In June 2012 a ‘natural capital declaration’ (NCD) was signed by 40 CEOs to ‘integrate natural capital considerations into loans, equity, fixed income and insurance products, as well as in accounting, disclosure and reporting frameworks.’ They worked with supporting organisations to develop tools and metrics to integrate natural capital factors into existing business structures.
Among natural resources, water is central in this natural capital approach. Across the EU, water shortages and droughts have increased dramatically in the recent decade and will become more frequent and severe in the future. Furthermore, water scarcity has a significant impact on the European economy, affecting industries such as agriculture, industry and tourism. The discussion in the session will revolve around the topic of water as an entry point into the broader discourse on climate change and how business models can integrate circularity and biodiversity more effectively on a wider scale.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Tim Brett: We are a consumer centric organization and absorb their changing habits and needs. We are making more commitments on reducing our CO2 emission but there is a lot of work ahead.
Luc Bas: Water is an indicator of how we deal with natural capital. We need to stop improvising, develop a solid strategy and adopt the right nature-based solutions in order to be able to move forward. / The challenge with safeguarding #naturalcapital, restoring nature, is that it is not at the heart of the debate yet. For that we need a common understading of what it is.
Florika Fink-Hooijer: We just opened the dialogue on 0 polution action plan. Public funding is not enough. We have developed several platforms to encourage the dialogue with the business community. We need to join forces.
DAY 1
10:30-10:45
Channel 1
Amelia Lopez Huix
CEO
MOH International
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Amelia Lopez Huix: “Women represent half of the global economic and societal potential!” / #womenempowerment “Europe lacks modernisation. EU authorities need to change the narrative. Investors and stakeholders should take immediate action for the future!”
DAY 2
12:00-12:45
Channel 1
Frans Timmermans
Executive Vice-President
for the European Green Deal
European Commission
Erik Novaes
Vice-President Procurement & Sustainability, Europe
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Bernard M. Kemper
CEO
EEW Energy from Waste GMBH
Sébastien Petithuguenin
General Manager
PAPREC GROUP
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Frans Timmermans: “Things are moving in the right way internationally. We need to prepare well for the meeting in Glasgow and thus it is very exiting that the US will be back in the #ParisAgreement” / “We have to look where we want to invest. We need to be proactive. The overwhelming majority of people in business have realized that we need to restructure the economy in a sustainable way” / #Greenwashing? “It is crucial that we offer the business community long term predicatability. We need to use climate law as the backbone of what we want to build in terms of regulation.” / “European SMEs are struggling. We need to ensure they are on board. Our task is to provide quality regulation that provides predictability and stability.” / “We need the business community. That is where the understanding of sustainable production, consumption and circular economy is. We need to take action. We cannot afford to be left behind.”
Erik Novaes: “We are working with several S&Es and startups. Whenever we set a new sustainable goals there is a full base of suppliers that have to go in the same direction and support us.”
Sébastien Petithuguenin: “Recycling is massive weapon to fight climate change and it is instrumental to deliver this transition”
DAY 1
12:45-13:00
Channel 1
Steven Tebbe
Managing Director
CDP Europe
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Steven Tebbe: “Environment protection is the most urgent action we should take.” / “Build forward better, we do not want to go back to where we were.”
DAY 1
13:00-13:40
Channel 1
Joan Romero
CEO
Catalonia Trade and Investment
Jaume Vives
Managing Director
Roche Diagnostics
Marc Gómez
CEO and President
ABB in Spain
Jennifer Baker
EU Policy and Tech Reporter
Catalonia is a world-class Tech Hub investment destination and has an outstanding position as a foreign investment venture. AAM, Novartis, IBM, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Hempel are just a few examples of cutting-edge multinationals investing in Catalonia. Alstom and Oracle have also chosen Catalonia for their industry 4.0 strategy. The roundtable will focus on Catalonia’s competitive advantage as the first European Capital of Innovation (according to iCapital Prize) and on how the Catalan Government can support your future investments in this strategic location. According to different rankings, Catalonia received the most R&D investments and showed the highest number of R&D jobs in all Continental Europe (fDi Markets). According to PwC’s latest report, Barcelona stands out for its digitalisation efforts in fields such as culture and tourism, smart healthcare, smart housing and utilities. This positions the Catalan capital as the fourth most well-prepared city for the technological future, coming just after Singapore, London and Shanghai.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Jaume Vives: “Catalonia has one of the most attractive & professional ecosystems. Roche Diagnostics brings digital advantages to healthcare.” / Catalonia: the new Silicon Valley? “The Catalonian Innovation spirit creates a perfect environment for European entrepreneurs, startups & innovation hubs.”
Marc Gomez: “Catalonia allows people to grow and have a career. The region has the required resources & attracts the companies that are willing to invest. Being able to attract and retain is a big differentiator for Catalonia.”
Joan Romero: “We have to consolidate the technology offer and pull the demand on innovation. The Catalonian government attaches great importance to innovation and collaborates with trade unions and business associations to reach its innovation goals.”
DAY 1
13:45-14:00
Channel 1
Moira Gilchrist
Vice-President Strategic and Scientific Communications
PMI
Damon Embling
Journalist
Euronews
This session, in collaboration with Philip Morris International (PMI), will explore how PMI is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, and its shareholders. While analysing the PMI’s disruptive innovative approach, the session will focus on the internal and external scientific challenges and the transparency in R&D practices.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Moira Gilchrist: “Our vision is simple, we want to end the sale of combustible cigarettes.”/ “We went for an aggressive transparent process by publishing all of our research and raw data.”
DAY 1
13:45-14:00
Channel 1
André Sapir
Senior Fellow
Bruegel
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
André Sapir: #resilience #governance “We need new rules on governance in the wake of the pandemic, government accountability and a better rule of law in some countries.”
DAY 1
14:00-15:00
Adina Valean
European Commissioner for Transport
Laurent Donceel
Senior Policy Director
Airlines for Europe
Marc Gómez
CEO and President
ABB in Spain
Tesa Arcilla
Brussels-based TV presenter and correspondent
The objective of the session is to discuss how the European Union and the European industry address the challenge of driving EU Transport towards climate-neutrality. The industry is transforming its activities and products to contribute with practical and responsible solutions to a more sustainable transport sector and a climate neutral future in Europe by 2050. The session will stimulate a debate on how industry and regulators can accelerate these developments, which policy framework will enable this transformation, on how to create the lead markets for low-carbon products, more specifically within the current Green Deal, NextGenerationEU and tax scheme. The conversation will offer the opportunity to look into the challenges faced by specific transport sectors such as Aviation but also the shares of road transport. Also, we will explore how a dialogue with policymakers and a multi-stakeholder engagement approach can guide sustainable business transformation in a sustainable and competitive way.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Laurent Donceel: Amidst the crisis from the coronavirus pandemic, the importance of sustainability hasn’t gone away. Both concerns need to be addressed. / The impact the current pandemic has on the industry might speed up innovation. / “What about #Flight shaming? “The enemy is #CO2, not #transportation! We have been decoupling #CO2 #emissions over the past years. / Passengers play a role such as #regulation does.”
Giuseppe Ricci: “During the hardest time of the pandemic, the energy sector remained in operation, which shows how robust this sector is.” / “During the hardest moment of the pandemic, the energy sector remained in operation & was in conditions to supply all the energy necessary for the economy, for the essential services & citizens” / ‘We will need to invest a lot of money to help the EU economy recover. These investments should be in accordance with #EUClimateTargets but we should adopt a technology neutrality approach.”
Adina Valean: #COVID19 crisis has brought many opportunities. The #GreenDeal and digitalization will be two important pillars of the recovery plan. The money granted by Member States and the EU for sustainable investment will support the transport sector
DAY 1
15:00-15:30
Channel 1
Virginijus Sinkevicius
European Commissioner for Environment and Oceans and Fisheries
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Virginijus Sikevicius: #sustainability How do you mobilise Europeans? “We have to start by changing the minds of #EU citizens. Investing in a clean environment always pays back & is essential to ensure our health & quality of life.”
DAY 2
15:30-16:30
Channel 1
Valdis Dombrovskis
Executive Vice-President for Economy and Trade
European Commission
Diana Layfield
President for EMEA Partnerships
Google
Jason Warner
President Europe
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Nicola Villa
Executive Vice President, Strategic Growth and
Global Lead, Government Center of Excellence
Mastercard
Markus J. Beyrer
Director General
BusinessEurope
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
The European union is facing planetary emergencies linked to the global sanitary crisis, the environment, the economy, and our social and political systems. Europe needs to rethink the role of economy. How can companies survive the second vague and how the EU can help them? When the EU recovery package will reach the Member States? NextGeneration EU: How can it helps companies to get capital injections/loans? How could the Union and the European companies and SMEs create adaptive and long-term solutions? How to seize trade opportunities and how it can contribute to the recovery? How could we use trade tools to support sustainable development?
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Valdis Dombrovskis: It is important to develop the #COVID19 #vaccines asap. The challenge is producing them on a large scale. The 2nd wave has slowed down the economic #recovery. The #EU is expected to recover its pre-crisis GDP levels at the end of 2022. / We need the EU’s €1.82 trillion recovery package in place as quickly as possible so that money can start to flow into the real economy. I hope all sides know how much this money is needed: people and businesses are waiting. #RRF / “Speaking at #EBS2020 on reviving the transatlantic relationship as #EU, #US work together as strategic partners to face challenges in the economy, trade, security, and other areas of cooperation”
Nicola Villa: “Digitizing SMEs is the most pressing issue now. “
Diana Layfield: “We will be #carbonfree by #2030, we are absolutely looking forward to working more closely with the #EU on the green agenda. / “The US is the most critical trading partner for Europe. The #EU and #USA share core values that we need to build on. We are moving towards a new area of transatlantic cooperation.”
Jason Warner: “A vision for green and digital transformation is exactly what we are aiming for. As a large multinational we are proud that we can play a part in a leadership role.”
DAY 1
16:30-16:45
Channel 1
Philippe Lamberts
Co-president of the Greens/EFA group
European Parliament
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHT
Philippe Lamberts: “We have to mobilise actors of change – governments, NGO’s, civil society. We can do it!” / “How to jump start Europe’s economy? “We need clarity and determination. Market players will then invest in the right direction!”
DAY 2
16:45-17:45
Channel 1
Joanna Drake
Deputy Director-General DG ENV
European Commission
Emmanuel Katrakis
Secretary General
European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC)
Vasileios Rizos
Research Fellow and Head of Sustainable
Resources and Circular Economy
CEPS
Françoise Bonnet
Secretary General
Association of Cities and Regions
for sustainable Resource management (ACR+)
Sasha Vakulina
Journalist
Euronews
The Europe’s economy still remains very resources dependent and its model of value creation is wasteful. The business, political and academic communities are increasingly aware of the opportunities offered by adopting circular economy principles to benefit Europe environmentally and socially. Circular economy offers to Europe a major opportunity to increase resource productivity, decrease resource dependence and waste, and increase employment and growth. How could recycling and the circular economy help the EU achieving the targets set by the EU Green Deal and unleash innovation?
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Joanna Drake: “We have seen #circulareconomy being a success the first time around, now we have to dig deeper and businesses should rethink their models. Waste has to be prevented “
Vasileios Rizos: “All of the signs on the market indicate that there can be opportunity for new approaches and innovation.”
Françoise Bonnet: “#Consumers are ready to spend to get a product that will last, is #reparable and will be easily #recycled but they don’t have enough information on the products. We need a clear #legal #framework with targets, obligations and incentives”
Emmanuel Katrakis: “If we want to be successful, we need to move towards a #circulareconomy. ” / “#circulareconomy The EU should keep pushing for recycling products or impose taxation in order to reach its sustainable goals.”
DAY 1
17:45-18:00
Channel 1
Ufuk Akcigit
Arnold C. Harberger Professor of Economics
University of Chicago
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Ufuk Akcigit : “Slowdown of productivity growth maybe related to the fact that businesses are not sharing their #innovation” / “We need to realise that behind #innovation there is the basic research step. Without proper founding in this area we cannot thrive.”
DAY 1
18:00-18:05
Channel 1
Arnaud Thysen
Director General
European Business Summits
DAY 2
09:10-09:15
Channel 1
Arnaud Thysen
Director General
European Business Summits
DAY 2
09:15-10:15
Channel 1
Mariya Gabriel
Commissioner for Innovation and Youth
European Commission
Anne-Sophie Collard
Professor of Information and Communication
University of Namur, Belgium
Giorgio Ventre
Professor of Computers Network
Department of Information and Electrical Engineering of the University of Napoli Federico II
Svenia Busson
Managing Director of Learnspace
Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck
Founder& Director
Lie Detectors
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
Because developing the digital skills of all Europeans is essential to ensure the digital transformation of the European Union, Commissioner Mariya Gabriel recently presented a new Digital Education Action Plan. It outlines the shared European vision built by 2025 on quality, inclusion, human rights, gender equality, and green and digital transitions. Digital education is important to ensure the EU’s competitiveness through the upskilling of the workforce, but how can it increase people’s awareness about disinformation and digital knowledge of AI applications? The action plan aims to apply the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 crisis and set out a long-term vision for the digital transformation of education and training in the EU. What will this new digital strategy look like in practice? Has the EU earmarked enough investment from the Next Generation EU and other programs, such as Erasmus+? How can Member States work together to adapt their education and training systems to the digital age, including making online learning on secure platforms available to all?
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck : “Digital divide? Digital transformation is more than just software and hardware. Due to inequalities, children are disappearing from the education grid. We need to empower young people” / “When it comes to #digitaleducation we need to ‘take the sting away’ to avoid imposing from above and to get involved with the teachers on their level to understand the real day to day issues that they are going through.#DigitalLiteracy is key”
Anne-Sophie Collard: “To be attractive, #Digital Media education needs to be entertaining and informative! We need to train teachers to be experts to use all the digital media environment.”
Svenia Busson: the founder of @LearnSpaceParis details the importance of #EdTech and the incredible startups that exist to help children through #personalised #learning with #AI. #digitaleducation
Giorgio Ventre: “For the #EU to keep the pace of the global market in #digital education and change the European digital landscape it is crucial to develop a European approach focusing on schools, universities & research.” / “What about a digital tax? We need to call for a shared & practical approach. Global companies can have a very positive impact in the #EU by investing in Europe, developing technologies and creating innovation.”
DAY 2
10:15-10:30
Channel 1
Arnaud Thysen
Director General
European Business Summits
Cathy Kearney
Vice-President of European Operations
Apple
DAY 2
10:30-10:45
Channel 1
Paula Berning
Corporate citizenship consultant
PHINEO
Vanessa Buttignon
European Union Public Affairs
and Citizenship Manager
John Deere
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Vanessa Buttignon : “‘It’s time to get serious about #climate change!”
DAY 2
10:45-11:45
Channel 1
Salla Saastamoinen
DG JUST Acting Director General
European Commission
Tim Hwang
CEO
FiscalNote
Eric Pol
Chairman
aNewGovernance
Maria Tadeo
Reporter for Bloomberg Television
Wojtek Wiewiorowski
The European Data Protection Supervisor
Paul Jordan
European Managing Director
International Association of Privacy Professional
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl
Director-General
Digital Europe
The von der Leyen Commission wants to ensure a human-centric digital transition that serves the people. That data created in Europe by Europeans benefits those same Europeans. That Artificial Intelligence and machine learning processes that use this data respect European values and rules. That governments and businesses inside and outside Europe respect these rules. The GDPR has been lauded as a first step in Europe setting such global standards that protect the rights and privacy of individuals. The forthcoming Data Act will seek to do the same for B2B and B2P data. How can a balance be found that ensures the access to data for all? How will that drive the innovation we need to answer our pressing societal and economic problems, whilst protecting the rights of individuals and legitimate competitive advantages of business? Does the GDPR present a blueprint to follow? Has it delivered on its promises? Is it applicable to B2B and B2P data sharing? What is the value of data and how can it benefit all? The debate will re-think the regulatory efforts in the context of finding the right balance.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl: “More access to #data with greater transparency and working to avoid fragmentation in #europe are the # 1 issues at the moment.” #Digitalisation
Tim Hwang: “The more we get towards a singular framework the better we can give guidance for our stakeholders”
Paul Jordan: “We need to encourage a cultural change within all organisations to encourage a #data governance; and to get organisations to look at the use of data within their organisations.”
Wojtek Wiewiorowski: “Free flow of data does not mean that you can use the data for everything that you want.. We should not be so fast to use the word ‘ownership’ when it comes to data. Because you can’t sell, destroy and own #data in a traditional sense.”
Salia Saastamoinen: “Having strong personal data protection rules is a part of the #solution.” #Dataprotection #GDPR
DAY 2
11:45-12:00
Channel 1
Jan Kleijssen
Director of Information Society and Action Against Crime
& Internet Governance Coordinator
Council of Europe
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Jan Kleijssen: “A common pan-European strategy could really help. At the @coe we are creating the world’s first treaty on AI to create a level playing field for business and to help the EU bring #trusted #AI to the market.” / “We have created a #toolkit for governments at the @coe to help them in these uncertain times to ensure that #humanrights are maintained.”
DAY 2
12:00-12:15
Channel 1
Anthony Cox
OECD Environment Directorate
Deputy Director
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Anthony Cox: “For #ClimateChange to be successful you need a strong sense of engagement with local communities, and you also need to offer a path to the future that is satisfactory. #OECD”
DAY 2
12:15-13:15
Channel 1
Vera Jourova
Vice-President for Values and Transparency
European Commission
Stéphanie Yon-Courtin
Member of the European Parliament
European Parliament
Christian Borggreen
Vice President & Head of Office
The Computer & Communications
Industry Association (CCIA Europe)
Javier Espinoza
EU Correspondent
Financial Times
Sébastien Soriano
Chairman
ARCEP
Mike Sax
Founder and Chairperson
The App Association
Rapid digitization has deeply transformed all parts of the economy. The growing systemic importance of certain large platforms has led regulators and lawmakers to question whether established rules are able to secure a competitive, safe and fair online business environment. With the European Commission about to launch a set of landmark proposals designed to strengthen oversight in the platform economy, and looking back at recent experiences of digital regulation, we ask where there is need for new rules? What should they look like?
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Stéphanie Yon-Courtin: “Big platforms have a role in our daily lives but reaching big audiences comes with greater responsibilities.” #Regulation of #Digital #Platforms
Sébastien Soriano: “The problem is not internet, it’s centralisation. Gatekeepers cut access to content, cut innovation and introduce an internet hierarchy. We must redistribute the power & make sure that there is a real competition in the market.”
Vera Jourova: “The #democratic world should take action to enhance the advantage of being #connected through platforms while also maintaining the #humanrights of the users via accountability measures – create a system that will increase the #safety and be user-friendly.”
Mike Sax: “Gatekeeping keeps bad actors out and gives small companies and startups the ability to be trusted by Europeans. Otherwise SMEs are at huge disadvantage in the competition with the big brands”
Christian Borggreen: “#App developers want to give more transparency for the users, but people don’t want 100 percent #transparency because this could enable #malicious actions.”
DAY 2
13:15-13:45
Channel 1
Eva Kaili
Member of the European Parliament
European Parliament
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
Bernd Stahl
Director
Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Eva Kaili: ” Research funding and #ethics for #AI are crucial for the future of the #discipline.” / “We need to fund research and make sure we create #ethics & #guidelines for #IA trainings as part of #horizoneurope.”
DAY 2
13:45-14:00
Channel 1
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
Johan Norberg
Swedish Author
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Johan Norberg: “Post covid world: what urgent step to take? “We need to think about the next urgency. Europe failed during this pandemic. All the things we rely upon during a crisis have to be firm as steel for us not to loose faith in the #EU” / How to jump start #EU’s economy? “Digital freedom is key. It is the one thing that is keeping us alive during this pandemic!”
DAY 2
14:00-15:00
Channel 1
Alain Alexis
Head of Unit, DG for Defence Industry and Space
European Commission
Jiri Sedivy
Chief Executive
European Defence Agency
Johan ANDRIES, Brig Gen (Ret)
Defence Advisor
SABCA
Joanneke Balfoort
Director Security and Defence Policy
European External Action Service
Christian Hedelin
Chief Strategy Officer
Saab
Teri Schultz
Journalist
Independent Media
The past years have been essential for the development of European Defence initiatives as the EU has made unprecedented efforts to relaunch this strategy. The results of these efforts translated into enhanced cooperation and new mechanisms that aim to foster innovation and competitiveness for the defence sector. The Covid19 crisis has brought a variety of challenges in multiple areas that also affect the European defence sphere. How has the COVID-19 crisis affected the dynamic development of EU defence? How the crisis will impact/impacted the funding for the European defence initiatives? What are the main challenges for the defence companies in the current context? What are the key investments that need to be prioritized? What are the next steps and is there opportunity for closer cooperation?
DAY 2
15:00-15:30
Channel 1
Chris Burns
Independent Journalist
Olha Stefanishyna
Deputy Prime Minister for European
and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine
Government of Ukraine
The event will look into the current state of play of the EU-Ukraine trade relationship, opportunities and challenges arising there for the European and Ukrainian business, with a special focus on the reset and reinvigoration of bilateral trade ties within the Association Agreement, the European Green Deal initiative and so on. The event will feature live interview with Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for European and EuroAtlantic Integration, who will present the vision of the Ukrainian Government to this and other topics.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Olha Stefanishyna: How is the green deal helping secure the transition? “We cannot longer postpone the transformation of the coal sector in Ukraine. The EU is Ukraine’s principle ally and support. We need to form a strategy together to ensure a smooth transition.”
DAY 2
15:30-16:30
Channel 1
Lora Borissova
Senior Expert
Cabinet of EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen
Sérgio Pimenta
Vice President for the Middle East and Africa
International Finance Corporation
World Bank Group
Soraya Hakuziyaremye
Minister of Trade and Industry
Government of Rwanda
Hirut Zemene
Ethiopian Ambassador to the
Kingdom of Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU institutions
Fabrizio Delage-Paganini
Co-Founder
Valeur-Tech
Anna Ekeledo
Executive Director
AfriLabs
Celia Moore
EU-Africa Relations Consultant
As the EU increases its policy emphasis on growing trade with Africa, it is seeking ways that traditional development support can reinforce local benefits from trade. EU Commissioner Urpilainen, responsible for International Partnerships, will present the EU development policy and its links to other EU priorities. Other speakers will contribute views on support needed to increase participation of local entrepreneurs in expanding value chains, and support to transform infrastructure and systems that will enable growth in trade across Africa and to external markets.
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Sergio Pimenta: ” Two main issues on which we should focus- #Gender: we need to unlock the potential of women throughout the continent & #Green economy: we need to promote a more inclusive and fair world in terms of climate.”
DAY 2
16:30-16:40
Channel 1
Hans-Joachim Fuchtel
German Parliamentary State Secretary
of Food and Agriculture
DAY 2
16:40 – 16:45
Channel 1
Amanda Fernandes
Digital Transformation Lead
AB InBev
Christine Levêque
Director Business Innovation
SUEZ
Carolina Gario
Policy Officer
European Commission – DG Grow
DAY 2
16:45-16:50
Channel 1
Arnaud Thysen
Director General
European Business Summits
