The 2021 Edition of Rethink Digital Summit took place on 25 May. The Summit live-streamed 10 exclusive panels and interactive interviews featuring over 35 prominent speakers from business, policy, civil society, and academia.
We thank the speakers and participants for attending the ReThink Digital Summit 2021 edition, titled “Shaping Europe’s Digital Future”!
Shaping Europe’s digital future is both a priority and a challenge for the European Union, which aims to be at the forefront of innovation while protecting consumers and ensuring the markets’ fairness. During the Rethink Digital Summit, the hot questions in the EU digital agenda were addressed:
• How to mitigate online risks while preserving the digital ecosystem?
• What role for national enforcement bodies?
• How to encourage cooperation between Member states?
• What international implications will market regulations have?
AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS
Cédric O, French Secretary of State for the digital Economy: “The EU has to decide its future on its own, independently of the US administration. What legal framework do we want? What balance between innovation & regulation? It’s our deal!”
Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, Member of the European Parliament: How soon do you expect the Digital Markets Act to be implemented? “The sooner the better! Hopefully for the French presidency of the EU in the next semester. We have to make sure we develop a flexible & efficient legal tool to regulate gatekeepers.”
Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice and AI: “The new US administration is more open for discussion at a multilateral level. We want to engage with the US on enforcing citizens’ rights in case of a violation of data protection.”
Anne-Marie Engtoft Larsen, Denmark’s tech Ambassador: “Denmark launched a strategy for tech diplomacy to put governments back in the driver seat to build our shared technological future. Democracy on a global scale is challenged.”
Tommaso Valletti, Professor of Economics at Imperial College Business School:“Europe has to define its own model of data ownership. We are not forced to choose between the US or the Chinese models, an alternative is possible.”
