The PromethEUs network successfully organised the policy event titled “Digital Priorities for the EU 2024-2029: Strengthening the Single Market and Reviving Competitiveness.” This event took place on Wednesday, 23 October 2024, from 12:00 to 13:30 CET in Madrid.
About the Conference:
This significant gathering provided a platform for presenting PromethEUs’ policy recommendations on digital priorities, addressing current challenges in EU digital competitiveness. Discussions underscored the vital role of a fully functioning Digital Single Market to drive innovation and secure the EU’s position on the global stage.
Keynote speakers, including influential policymakers and industry leaders, discussed strategies to bridge the digital divide between the EU and other major economies. They emphasized the need for EU cohesion in creating a more unified and resilient digital ecosystem.
Main Takeaways:
The event underscored the need for bold digital reforms to elevate EU competitiveness, particularly in AI, data governance, and cybersecurity.
Public-private collaboration emerged as a central theme, with participants advocating joint efforts to meet Europe’s future digital demands. Specific points included the necessity of interoperable digital ecosystems and streamlining regulatory frameworks to allow greater ease of operation for businesses within the EU.
Outcome from the discussion: One prominent insight was the call to establish an EU-wide Digital Sovereignty Framework. This framework would aim to harmonize regulations across member states, providing clearer guidelines for digital infrastructure investment. Industry representatives showed strong support, advocating for public-private partnerships to advance these initiatives.
PromethEUs also presented its position paper, “Digital for Growth: Strengthening the Single Market and Reviving EU Competitiveness,” which outlines ten strategic recommendations, including reducing regulatory burdens, enhancing investment in emerging technologies, and fostering open digital ecosystems. Key recommendations highlighted include the need to consolidate digital legislation, promote regulatory sandboxes for startups, and prioritize capital markets union to support tech companies at various growth stages
The event attracted a diverse array of digital policy and innovation leaders, sparking dynamic discussions on Europe’s digital priorities for 2024-2029 and reinforcing the importance of a unified digital approach for the EU’s future competitiveness. For further details on the recommendations discussed, please refer to PromethEUs Digital Blueprint 2024.
