Wed. 17
November
2021
WELCOME
COMMITTING TO THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL: WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
A conversation with European Vice President Frans Timmermans
Highlights:
“We can’t stop even one day, we have to continue to work very hard to achieve that 1.5 goal.”
“Nuclear has no emission, but it is extremely expensive. Other renewable energies are cheaper. Governments need to make rational choice for the best clean energy mix.”
“China has made a real progress by entering joint declaration with USA, transcending other political issues. China has phasing down coal which is an important contribution for a country like China or India”
“COP 26 is not a failure. In 2020, only 30% of the world’s economy declared their net-zero goal. Now it is 90%. That is an advancement. We are speeding up.”
BEYOND THE GREEN DEAL'S NET-ZERO OBJECTIVES: CAN WE STILL AVOID SEA-LEVEL RISE?
10 million litres of ice per second melt in the height of summer in Greenland; record temperatures of 38°C have been recorded In the Arctic. This unprecedented melting of ice in the Atlantic may stop the Gulf stream and would lead to a much colder climate and increase Europe’s energy consumption. The Green Deal and Paris agreement’s objective of net zero emissions by 2050, while stopping further CO2 emissions, will not allow to reduce the carbon already present in the atmosphere.
The scientific community calls for more immediate actions to reach negative emissions and avoid the Arctic ice melting.
Highlights:
“Now that you have the privilege to know, you have the duty to act”, Hans van der Loo
“The Green Deal is a breakthrough document proving that economy and environment are not contradictory”, Janez Potocnik
“Reduce deep and rapid emissions, remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere, Repair our planet. These are the way to save our Arctic regions”, Sir David King
“The youth are not being heard”, Aniek Moonen
“All great changes are the changes from the Elites. The Elite has to get together and steer the way to get people on board”, Dr Wouter van Dieren, Club of Rome.
“With the supply and demand mechanism, the transition of clean energy will rise but it will get to the point where we cannot afford it anymore. We will need new resources for alternative energies”, Professor Harald Sverdrup
MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE: THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW
CLEAN TECH INVESTMENT IN EUROPE. WHAT'S IN THE INNOVATION PIPELINE AND WHERE CAN EUROPE LEAD ?
“To keep our climate goals within reach the next ten years must be a decade of delivery, not deliberation” said COP26 President Alok Sharma. Indeed, with a net-zero emissions objective by mid-century, Europe, as the rest of the world, need to scale up research and development of new clean technologies.
Achieving global net zero emissions will require huge leaps in innovation. Almost half the necessary reductions by 2050 involve technologies that are currently in the demonstration or prototype phase according to the International Energy Agency. Innovation in cleantech normally takes decades, but the world does not have that much time. Strategic foresight is vital to identify technology trends early on and develop timely and coherent policies along the technology maturation cycle.
How can the research, entrepreneur, investors, and policy communities work together to anticipate technology trends and develop adequate policy frameworks?
Highlights:
“We have more than 600 years of brewing heritage and we want to go on doing it for a lot longer. We have our global innovation centre, GITEC, here in Belgium working on breakthrough tech needed. (…) Europe is creating the right environment to incentivise investments on clean technology to get to the ambitious goal EU has set. At AB InBev we are in full support of exploring different new technologies and comparing for the best alternatives”, Cybelle Buyck
“Europe already takes leadership role in setting high standards to meet the carbon neutrality Europe. Investing in clean tech is not only about funding but creating jobs and prosperity”, Jacob Ruiter
“Europe can lead in creating a homogenous market, setting standards that exclude the most pollution-needing processes that will make them uncompetitive in term of carbon pricing.”
“Europe is making clean tech not only imaginable by the scientists of science, but reachable to everyone. Europe is leading in creating new science, new technologies and new pan-European champions”, Gaetan Bonhomme
“It is by joining forces that we can unlock the innovation potential in EU to support the green and digital transition. The main bottlenecks for EU innovation performance are the lack of innovation cohesion, the lack of finance and business environment”, Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
INTERVIEW WITH PRIME MINISTER ALEXANDER DE CROO
Highlights:
“At COP 26, the ambition of the Paris Agreement has been confirmed and there was an acceleration to achieve the 1.5 goal. The EU plays an important role and it will be a test market for new technologies. We have to be very clear on our market power.”
“Belgium is a healthcare power house. Our policy implemented decades ago was the access to highly educated people and a business friendly atmosphere.
INTERVIEW WITH MAURO PETRICCIONE, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF DG CLIMA
A conversation with Mauro Petriccione
Highlights:
“COP 26 was a disappointment in some aspects, but it is a good process to go forward.”
“Although we do not have China and India on board but there will be other COPs and work in between to persuade them.”
LUNCH BREAK
FIRESIDE CHAT: FOSTERING EUROPE'S INNOVATION
Highlights:
“A lot of advertising works and privacy safe and help you find what you want to, while helping small businesses grow.”
“Tools, skills, and rules are what EU should focus in Europe’s innovation”.
ADVANCING CIRCULARITY OF FLEXIBLE PACKAGING: WHAT’S AT STAKE AND HOW DO WE GET THERE?
This exclusive interview will explore producers’ and recyclers’ perspectives on the way forward for circularity of flexible packaging, an important challenge facing both the food and drink sector and the waste management industry. What is at stake and what can all actors do to contribute to more circularity? Join us for different perspectives from these key stakeholders.
Highlights:
“We focus educating our consumer’s to make the recycling process more effective. Our priority is to lead the innovtion of flexible packaging but we can’t do this alone. We need collaboration from stakeholders.”
“We need the right incentives, investments and innovation to make flexible packaging works”, Archana Jagannathan.
“We need to increase the values in the markets of recycling plastics. Not just focus about the investment in the process itself”, Paolo Glerean
THE EU-INDO-PACIFIC COOPERATION: HIGH STAKES & HIGH HOPES
Indo-Pacific economies are in the global spotlight as the region marks an impressive post-pandemic bounce-back. As competition for Indo-Pacific markets and influence steps up, attention is increasingly focused on the ASEAN, one of the region’s key actors as well as one of the EU’s newest “strategic partner”, which is home to about 17,000 European businesses which have a strong interest in developing closer economic integration and closer EU-ASEAN relations.
What are the key opportunities and challenges facing European businesses leaders as they compete for ASEAN markets?
Is ASEAN on track to achieve its goals of building an integrated frontier-free single market?
As other geopolitical actors step up their trade engagement in the region, can the EU give more content and focus to its strategic partnership with ASEAN by – finally – re-starting negotiations on an EU-ASEAN free trade agreement?
Highlights:
“The EU has a long relationship with ASEAN. We are not new in the game and we are not here to compete with others, but to collaborate with stakeholders in the region.”
SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC: WHAT ROLE DID SCIENCE PLAY?
In the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, join us for this exclusive interview – the first public performance in Brussels of the new President of the European Research Council (ERC), Europe’s premium funder of cutting-edge research. It will discuss the role of science in tackling the pandemic, as well as how to meet challenges such as climate change and best prepare for the next crisis? How to keep Europe on the map with growing global competition and citizens’ trust in science will also be addressed.
Highlights:
“Science has always played a prominent role, it is now more visible with the pandemic and the communication around it.”
FINANCING A SUSTAINABLE AND INNOVATIVE EUROPE: HOW TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS?
European investments in climate change mitigation and towards the digital transition are still insufficient. From new farming technologies to the decarbonisation of the European economy, resources and investments are needed. Through initiatives such as the European Innovation Council, the European Commission aims to develop an ecosystem that allows entrepreneurs to develop new endeavours, which will require the funding of high-risk SMEs, funding diverse and inclusive organisations as well as funding throughout the entire financing chain, including the latest stages.
How to ensure that “finance meets science” efficiently?
How to make sure private and public investment opportunities are used to their full capacity?
How to attract start-ups and develop European “unicorns”?
How to create a competitive and integrated ecosystem that allows for investments, innovation and R&D?
Highlights:
“SME’s are the tissue of European economy. There are very important and they are eager to take up sustainability when they can. So we have to support them”, Elisabetta Siracusa
“Europe is much more advances in bringing unicorns and startups on the market than we think. We need to make sure that Europe continues investing in startups which embed sustainability and nature-positivity in their systems, align with the 1.5 objective”, Max Weiss.
IS THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY GREEN-DEAL COMPATIBLE?
2021 was the European Year of the Rail. Sustainable fuels, night trains, electric cars… The transport sector is constantly evolving and adapting to new challenges. Besides, not only does it connect the continent by ensuring safer and faster journeys, but it also contributes greatly to the economy. Yet, it still accounts for 25 % of EU greenhouse gases emissions.
How to rethink mobility in Europe to reach the Green Deal’s objective?
How to make transport both accessible and carbon neutral by 2050?
How can it remain affordable and efficient for consumer?
What opportunities and challenges? What investments are needed?
Highlights:
“Drones have the potential to transport people. We don’t talk enough about this solution. And there are many new solution that we dont know yet today (…) We also need to increase the efficiency of the system, this means continuing to invest in the single market, sustainable liquid fuels, infrastructures and digitalisation”, Henrik Hololei
“Whatever the future mode of transport is, it need to be connected, digitised, more reliable, greener and customisable”, Julio Kong Yu
“Electrification is the best option to get road transport to zero emission, this trends are growing in electric vehicles but there are rooms for development of infrastructure (…) We are really behind in aviation and shipping. We must add the emissions from these sectors in the ETS”, Julia Poliscanova
“In 2019, none of the airlines pledge to achieve net-zero goal. Now more than 82% of airlines worldwide are trying to achieve that goal together, hand in hand with the European agenda”, Thomas Reynaert, Managing Director
WITH THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE HORIZON, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
Interview with Clément Beaune, France’s Secretary of State for European Affairs
Highlights:
“The EU should develop autonomous tools in some capacity. This does not mean giving up alliance but some burden-sharing and autonomy from the USA.”
“EU regulations should not only be about taxing and regulating big tech companies, we need to encourage our own private investment to develop innovation in a friendly environment.”
Setting global and EU standards for the climate, social and digital agendas are top priorities for the French Presidency of the EU.”
THE EU GREEN DEAL: PRIORITISING FISHERIES, THE OCEAN, AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Interview with Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius
Highlights:
“We’re stepping up drastically against deforestation. For six product groups that are imported to the EU market, the producers will have to make sure they are not associated with forest losses and degradation. This was a very much awaited measure.”
“In the last 30 years, we lost more forests than the whole surface of the EU and soil degradation can cost up to 50 billion a year.”
Th. 18
November
2021
BIG TECH REGULATIONS AND BATTLING DISINFORMATION: HOW CAN EUROPEAN COMPANIES FACE DIGITAL CHALLENGES?
Conversation with Vice-President Jourova
Highlights:
“Tech regulations are not much about technologies, they are about the people. Like GDPR, they give consumers and citizens the right to choose for themselves.”
“The era of relying on ‘offline law’ to automatically apply it to the online world failed.”
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN SAFETY AND INNOVATION
Artificial intelligence is an area of strategic importance and a key player for Europe’s economic development in the years to come but has also been identified as one of the most disruptive technologies. Smart information systems represent a major opportunity for innovation. Today, increased investments and research are needed for the EU to be a global player in the field of artificial intelligence. However, the development of this technology ought to be coupled with a regulation ensuring the respect of human rights and a human-centric approach to AI.
How to promote and develop the use of AI in Europe?
What framework should be used to regulate AI?
What areas should be considered “high-risk” and what should it entail?
Highlights:
“AI is definitely in its booming era. Canada, the home of the biggest number of start ups in the world, has been anticipating laws to help develop small AI start ups to compete in research with other big techs companies in other countries”, Avi Goldfarb
“When it comes to AI, we have to find a balance between safety and privacy, and we can do it. We should not compromise our privacy in order to be safe”, MEP Kaili
“Countries are already looking up to the European AI act. It’s being considered as a benchmark”, Andrea Renda
“The Commission’s objective is for the EU to become a leading hub in Artificial Intelligence. But one important barrier is the trust in AI. Europe wants to become a leader in the development of trustworthy AI”, Lucilla Sioli
“AI liability needs to be considered. There is an idea of turning AI into software products. That could be problematic, as AI and software products do not have the same nature – hence the different scope and impact to European businesses”, Siada El Ramly
TRANSFORMING THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR EUROPE’S DIGITAL DECADE
Europe is investing on an unprecedented scale to achieve post-Covid recovery, meet ambitious digital targets for 2030 and deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The pandemic has shown that the public sector has an essential role to play in facilitating a systemic response to the most serious challenges of our time. We argue that governments and the public sector must now assume a new role in galvanizing society and business in this decade to ensure Europe and the world achieve their 2030 ambitions. Cloud, data and all forms of digital technology offer great potential to effect sustainable transition, but must be applied in a manner that positively affirms European values, putting citizens, businesses and nations in control of their data and working to maintain trust. We work with public sector organisations to deliver a future through technology that is sustainable, sovereign, and puts positive social outcomes first.
Highlights:
“The digitalisation of the public sector will involve the businesses and citizens. They have to decide what society they want to live in and what goals they want to reach.”
“There’s a lot of work aimed at creating sovereign clouds, which are both fast and secure. And that’s very good because Europe takes charge of its own destiny.”
PLATFORM REGULATIONS: HOW TO BUILD A TRUSTED ECOSYSTEM?
Online spaces have been a source of great opportunities, but also a source of instability and insecurity when not regulated properly. Shaping Europe’s digital future is one of the most pressing issue identified by the European Commission today. With the Digital Markets Act and other legislative proposals, the EU aims to ramp up its competition law.
Can antitrust legislations foster innovation?
What implications at the international level?
How to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and create regulations fitting diverse business models?
Highlights:
“We hope technical experts can be invested in the regulation process. We hope there is space for dialogue for us to find the solutions together. (…) In the application of the DMA, we need predictability. We need to know how to behave in order to comply with its rules. The problem is that technologies evolve every day”, Oliver Bethell.
“There is a consensus about the necessity of effective enforcement of the DMA. It should serve as a reference for Europe and for the world”, MEP Stéphanie Yon-Courtin.
“Obligations of principles serve as loopholes. We must avoid them. Rules must be very clear and precise and may not include a case-by-case assessment. Otherwise it won’t function”, Oliver Guersent.
“Digital platforms are still new. We should start learning how to regulate these by focusing on few main platforms and continue to tackle other issues when we know more”, Fiona Scott Morton
A BUSINESS AND INVESTOR PERSPECTIVE: THE EU'S RECOVERY STRATEGY AND PLACE IN THE WORLD
POST COVID ECONOMY: WHAT DOES THE 'NEW NORMAL' LOOK LIKE?
With the review of each country’s recovery plan to be completed by July, Europe’s economic recovery has been set in motion: Germany plans to use about half the funds on digitalisation, while France should use half on green priorities. In parallel, many initiatives on transparency and taxation are trying to shape the economy’s future.
Is the approval process fast enough to ensure a swift recovery?
Will a second recovery plan be needed?
How to make sure that the recovery funds flow where it is needed?
Highlights:
“We need to embrace the green and digital transition. We have projects and a clear roadmap to achieve that, now we need infrastructures”, Luc Tholoniat
“The recovery is behind us, we are focusing on the transformative era of our economy. It’s not going to be easy, it will impact a lot of people. We have moved on to prepare for long term goals”, Alfred Kammer
“Right now the answer is solidarity, the success of RFF is mostly solidarity which is unimaginable the years before the pandemic”, MEP Dragos Pislaru
FISCAL TRANSPARENCY AND GLOBAL TAXATION: OVERLY AMBITIOUS OR ACHIEVABLE?
According to the OECD, 4-10% of global corporate-tax revenues per year around the world were lost in 2015 due to tax evasion and tax avoidance strategies. But the unprecedented G7’s proposed global corporate tax agreement, would raise the effective minimum corporate tax rate to 15 per cent. In parallel, the EU launched its New European Tax Observatory in June 2021.
How would such initiatives on transparency and taxation shape the economy’s future?
What impact might more fiscal transparency and a G7 global tax deal have?
Highlights:
“We have to be tough and condition market access for the financial sector. They did it in the US. No one would willingly forsake the European market”, MEP Philippe Lamberts
“We have the countries we need on board when it comes to the OECD agreement. There is no holdout that could be a threat”, Pascal Saint-Amans
THE CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY TO FOSTER TRUST IN THE PUBLIC DEBATE
A RENEWED TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONSHIP
The new US administration, following the 2020 election has been seen in the EU as an opportunity to rebuild the transatlantic partnership. An important trade partner for the EU, the United States have been a longstanding ally of Europe and will remain a key player to tackle the most pressing issues faced by Europeans – be it climate change or digital transformation.
How to effectively boost the cooperation between the US and the European Union?
What opportunities would re-launching the transatlantic relationship bring for the EU?
How can it help set global standards and reinforce Europe’s place on the global stage?
Highlights:
“A multilateral agreement is an instrument to build a better global relationship. We want to keep democracy and human rights on board and we have to work together to achieve that”, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri
“The trade policy is one if not the only tool we have to renew the EU-US relationship. We should explore its full potential. So I hope we will come back to a more pro-active trade relationship”, Luisa Santos
“I think AI is just an element of the digital agenda. The US and the EU have the possibility and the duty to set global standards in digital transition together. (…) It’s a pity that data flows are left out of the Trade and Technology Council. They’re not a technical issue, they’re a trade issue”, Markus Reinisch
“The EU and the US are ready to work together on AI and on technology and digital matters in general. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that we need and can work together to that regard”, Pastora Valero
“The climate of EU-USA relationship is much better, the communication is better than with the previous administration, now it is a lot of cleaning up legacy issues. The willingness to work with the EU is now there”, Rupert Schlegelmich
WHICH ENERGY MIX FOR A SUCCESSFUL CLEAN TRANSITION? INTERVIEW WITH MEP CANFIN
Interview with MEP Pascal Canfin
Highlights:
“Nuclear energy can be in the taxonomy but it cannot be in the green category. It should be a transitional solution.”
“We also need to understand the taxonomy of the energy alternatives. Not all clean energies are suitable for every situation. Now it’s the time to decide what kind of energy mix we want”.
“The role of the business community is important to achieve the Net Zero by 2050 objective. It’s important to have a dialogue with the business community. We must be ambitious and credible”.
WHICH ENERGY MIX FOR A SUCCESSFUL CLEAN TRANSITION?
The European Recovery plan is an exceptional opportunity for governments and the industry to rethink current energy and industry models to frame a more sustainable future by embracing the green transition as part of the rebuilding process. There are a lot of different options to decarbonize the economy that are being explored at the European level, from the production of hydrogen to the role of gas and nuclear energy in the taxonomy.
Which energy mix will be the most efficient to achieve carbon neutrality?
How to boost production of renewable and green energy sources?
How can companies better cope with the new realities of energy markets?
How to ensure affordability for consumers?
Highlights:
“The taxonomy of energy is too simplistic. We can’t just tell what are good and bad energies. We have to look at the broader pictures. If the taxonomy penalises the development of gas. We will continue to depend on carbon much longer. (…) The green transition is an opportunity for us and our customers. We are a strong advocate for gas power as solution but the narratives gets a bit lost in the possibility of renewable energy”, Martin O’Neill
“We need to replace coal as soon as possible (…) but we cannot pick losers or winners in terms of technology. Everyone has to be included in the transition process”, Thomas Meth
“We must look at how each solutions complement each other. We need to consolidate different solutions. At Exxon Mobil, we aim to invest 15 billions dollars, focusing on low-carbon emission energy”, Philippe Ducom
“We are moving towards Net Zero By 2050. We achieved the 2020 goal. Now our problem is the dependency on import fossil fuels. We need innovation for this sector”, Commissioner Simson
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY AND RECOVERING FROM COVID-19: WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
Interview with Mathias Cormann, OECD Secretary General
Highlights:
“We need to make all decisions necessary to optimize the strength and recovery to generate those revenues for the government to build resilience back again. With right level of focus, I am confident this can be done.”
“Better, regular, objective data and information are certainly needed to ensure what’s being done is effective and fair so that country are not just shifting their jurisdiction around.”
EUROPEAN SOVEREIGNTY: SCALING UP THE EU’S DEFENCE CAPACITIES
Scaling up the EU’s defence industry is a major challenge for the continent. The pandemic has shown the importance of ensuring the EU’s strategic autonomy on the global stage. The EU invested 205 billion euros in 2020 in defence industrial projects.
What are the next steps needed for the defence industry?
How to develop infrastructures and encourage innovation?
How to develop a coherent EU defence industrial strategy?
How can the Covid recovery boost the development of European defence initiatives?
Highlights:
“We need to have the capacity to act autonomously, at least in our neighbourhood”, Jiří Šedivý
“We need to change customer demand and that way our defence industry will change too. The landscape is changing rapidly and we need to get more investments”, Jan Pie Secretary General
“The problem of funding EU defence are 1. the lack of dialogue between the defence sect and financial engineers, 2. fragmentation, 3. complications to align with the Green Deal”, Kris Peeters
CONVERSATION WITH HIGH REPRESENTATIVE JOSEP BORRELL
Interview with High Representative Josep Borell
Highlights:
“I dont like to use the word wars because wars require two people fighting. Migration is definitely not a war but a hybrid threat.”
“The European’s armies will remain, they’re an important part of the Member States’ sovereignty but in some aspects it would be good to pull them together. This rationalisation would lead to enormous savings.
We should talk about responsibility rather than autonomy. We’re not seeking to be autonomous from someone or something in particular, we want to be able to be responsible for ourselves.”
“I’m in favour of NATO, but not only for NATO. I’m also in favour of European forces. If the EU strengthens its defence, it will strengthen NATO, because we are part of NATO.”
CLOSING WORDS