PRESS RELEASE

Opportunities and Risks in Europe’s Approach to Technological Sovereignty

Rome, 14 December 2020 – Aspen Institute Italia, in partnership with Google, will be holding an Aspenia Talk on “The challenge of European Digital Sovereignty” in digital mode. The talk will be hosted on the Zoom platform at 18.00 on 17 December 2020.

The meeting is part of the ASPENIA TALKS series. Speakers at the meeting will include: a video message from Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market; Giulio Tremonti, Chairman, Aspen Institute Italia; Paola Pisano, Minister for Technological Innovation and Digitalization; Luigi Gubitosi, Managing Director, Telecom Italia; Giorgia Abeltino, Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy South Europe, Google; Frederik Erixon, Director, European Center for International Political Economy; Carlo Alberto Carnevale Maffè, Associate Professor of Practice of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, SDA Bocconi School of Management. The debate will be moderated by Andrea Cabrini, Class Director, CNBC.

This is going to be an important week for the construction of Europe’s so-called “technological sovereignty”. The Commission will be introducing its Digital Service Act with the aim of defining standards at the European level capable also of influencing the international regulatory environment. Its aim is to ensure that the Internet is safe for users (by protecting their data) while at the same time continuing to be a competitive space from the standpoint of business. Also due to be published is a Data Governance Act containing a group of regulations designed to facilitate the exchange of data among European countries and to strengthen the digital single market. Both sets of measures call into play the responsibility of the technological giants (in terms of content and of tax regulations) and they will be part of the future debate on digital technology with the new US Administration. It is common knowledge that Europe and the United States subscribe to different philosophies where the protection of personal data is concerned. Opportunities and risks in Europe’s approach to technological sovereignty, including the risk of protectionistic tensions, will be debated in the course of a discussion which will be opened by European Commissioner Thierry Breton and wound up by Minister Pisano. As we know, digital innovation is one of the key points in the Recovery Plan.

Journalists interested in attending can register to follow the meeting on:

https://aspeninstituteitalia.zoom.us/webinar/register/1216079377387/WN_nsUxLK0aRKK8gXSZsDO3ug