This panel discussion will explore the opportunities and challenges that AI presents for Europe, emphasising the need for bold and responsible innovation as a means of boosting EU competitiveness. We will reflect on AI’s pivotal role in achieving the EU twin transition through the work of civil society leaders, across the fields of sustainability, and digital safety. This panel will underscore the significance of a balanced dialogue that takes into account the needs of industry, academia, and government, and the need for facilitating research and debate on the opportunities and challenges of AI in Europe. The panel will also focus on what more can be done to empower social innovation in Europe, particularly among nonprofits and social enterprises, and how and where more collaboration and resources are needed to help advance bold and responsible AI in Europe that can benefit society at large.

The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will see the launch on 18 April 2024 of an annual one-day conference on how the EU business community can help to speed Ukraine’s reconstruction and economic recovery. The titled summit “Investing in Ukraine’s Future” will assemble key policymakers, business leaders, intellectuals, and journalists. The primary goal is to tackle critical issues through nuanced policy development. The conference aims to unite a wide range of policymakers and business figures to deliberate on economic collaboration, assess current trade and investment ties, and emphasise the importance of both immediate and future actions.

The EU and the global community are currently grappling with a “poly-crisis” era, characterized by major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, and the climate crisis. This complex landscape needs a fundamental rethinking of governance and policy paradigms, emphasizing collaboration and adaptability, even during emergencies. In response to recent global events, there’s a growing emphasis on learning from the past five years, anticipating the future direction of the EU, and addressing urgent priorities, including evaluating election processes for democracy and representation, empowering European parties, and restoring trust between citizens and their representatives.

Decarbonising the transport sector, which currently accounts for around a quarter of all EU emissions, remains a complex challenge and a priority that requires a multi-faceted approach. Along with emissions standards, carbon pricing and promoting efficiency, it is essential to develop a consumer-centric approach, that ensures affordability and convenience for companies and citizens alike:

• What investments and infrastructures are needed for a carbon-neutral mobility?
• How to modernise transport systems while promoting sustainable public and active transportation?
• What role for biofuels, synthetic fuels and hydrogen, and how to ensure their sustainable production?
• How should the EU provide attractive solutions for consumers?

The EU economy is expected to continue its recovery in the coming years, but the pace of growth is likely to be modest. As interest rates continue to rise, the war in Ukraine wages on and inflation remains high, how is the current situation impacting European businesses and consumers? In addition to economic growth, the EU faces a number of challenges, including demographic changes, climate change, and digital transformation. The future shape of the EU and global economy will undoubtedly be affected by these factors:

• What long-term strategy is needed for the EU to better anticipate and respond to these economic challenges?
• What impact will the Stability and Growth Pact have?
• How to ensure the benefits of open global markets are maintained?
• Is the EU doing enough to support recovery from the COVID-19 and energy crises?
• What role will emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, automation, and blockchain, play in shaping the future of work and the economy?

In today’s interconnected world, cybersecurity plays a pivotal role in safeguarding individuals, organizations, and governments from an ever-evolving array of cyber threats. Whilst Quantum computing and AI-enabled technologies become rife, how can Europe keep ahead of the curve, innovative, and protected against the Cyber threats that are proliferating?

• How can the cross-border implications of cybersecurity be best managed, globally as well as regionally?
• How can the EU ensure that its digital security efforts align with its commitment to privacy and human rights?
• Should governments prioritize stronger regulations to enforce cybersecurity standards across industries?
• Are current cybersecurity measures sufficient to protect against emerging threats such as artificial intelligence-driven attacks?

In an era marked by global challenges—deindustrialisation, slow down of global trade, energy crises, and the looming climate change threat – European industry stands at a pivotal crossroads. To retain the competitiveness, foster innovation, generate high-quality jobs, and nurture world-class companies, Europe must embrace a transition to cleaner technologies and take on an ambitious Green Industrial Policy. As other global players like the US or China roll out their industrial strategies and public investment plans, the EU is building its approach, to both respond to these initiatives and underpin the Green Deal as the European growth strategy. One of the key challenges for Europe is to foster more and more strategic investments relevant for the green and digital transitions in critical sectors like raw materials, green tech and biotechnology, particularly for pioneering projects. The EU must actively support the development of new clean tech solutions and to boost their growth in the first phases and scale them up. At the same, time the energy crisis and the cost of transition to clean energy or the predicted skill gaps needs to be addressed. 

The energy transition is taking center stage at COP 28, with nations emphasizing the imperative of sustainable practices to combat climate change. This global commitment aligns with Europe’s strategic vision for maintaining competitiveness in the aftermath of the energy crisis. Recognizing the interplay between industrial competitiveness and environmental sustainability. By investing in clean technologies, renewable energy sources, and fostering innovation, Europe is positioning itself as a leader in the global green economy. 

The EU Commission has clearly stated its aim to be the first climate neutral continent by 2050 and to cut emissions by 55% by 2030. However, an energy crisis and fears of security of supply have sparked concern about the achievability of its ambitious climate targets. The need for further collective actions will surely be also addressed during the upcoming COP 28 in Dubai.

• How to realistically phase out fossil fuels? 
• Is hydrogen the key to decarbonising in Europe? Can the EU be independent? Can the benefits of hydrogen reach consumers?
• How to increase the roll-out of renewable energy?
• What role will Carbon Capture and Storage play?
• Can Net-Zero still be reached in a timely and proportionate manner?
• How can the EU strike a balance between setting ambitious climate targets and ensuring effective implementation strategies?

The panel discussion, within the initiative of Our Feed Our Future, will bring together policymakers, academics, and young activists who are using their presence online to advocate for change, build their own platform and to take ownership of the online world. The discussion will focus on how the right skills and competencies can be ensured so youth can make the most of the online world, and how Europe can foster its digital future. The role of non-formal education programmes, with a showcase of ThinkYoung’s Active Citizenship Education (ACID), will also be raised and how it will equip youth with the skills to campaign on their issues and use digital tools to spread their message.

The EU and the global community are currently grappling with a “poly-crisis” era, characterized by major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, and the climate crisis. This complex landscape needs a fundamental rethinking of governance and policy paradigms, emphasizing collaboration and adaptability, even during emergencies. In response to recent global events, there’s a growing emphasis on learning from the past five years, anticipating the future direction of the EU, and addressing urgent priorities, including evaluating election processes for democracy and representation, empowering European parties, and restoring trust between citizens and their representatives.

The European Union stands at the forefront of shaping the future of AI, placing a strong emphasis on responsible development. The commitment to finding a balance between AI advancement and effective regulation is rooted in the vision of AI as a catalyst for economic growth and societal progress, all while emphasizing a human-centric approach to digital transformation. The ongoing negotiations concerning the AI Act hold immense importance, as they will define the boundaries of AI, define the extent of regulation, and identify high-risk areas. Equally crucial is the effective implementation of the AI Act after its adoption, ensuring that it caters to the needs of all stakeholders, including businesses, startups, and SMEs. The overarching objective revolves around nurturing dynamic and responsible innovation, championing the success stories of startups and scale-ups, and propelling substantial AI investment to bolster Europe’s global competitiveness and stimulate economic growth. Ensuring inclusivity and embracing diverse perspectives within the AI community are imperative, while public policy and infrastructure should be agile and supportive of responsible innovation, thereby cementing the EU’s position as a hub for AI innovation.

• Can the AI Act set international standards?
• What criteria should classify high-risk AI applications, effectively harmonizing safety and innovation?
• What strategies can be implemented to ensure the scalability of AI innovation, and what specific forms of support can be extended to startups and SMEs?
• How can we actively promote diversity of perspectives within the AI community?
• What key attributes define an effective regulatory sandbox that fosters participation, real-world testing, and compliance?

The event aims at disseminating and exploiting the Shoes Your Life results, improving understanding of their use and integration into the European Education System as well as presenting all the potentialities of digitalisation in the classroom. This roundtable will bring together educators, industry professionals, and students to explore how digitalisation can be used to improve educational opportunities in STEAM careers. After the roundtable, the attendants will have the opportunity to test the Shoes Your Life Virtual Reality App, and get a first-hand experience of its features and capabilities.

Since the EU launched its Green Deal, there has been a global pandemic, Russia invaded Ukraine, interest rates and inflation have surged, and so has the international competition for the materials and supply chains for clean technologies. Europe has deep experience and support for the energy transition, and yet the tactics it has deployed to deliver its goals must adapt to these new circumstances. In the ‘next phase of the European Green Deal’ announced by President von der Leyen, Europe urgently needs to find ways to lower the cost of the transition to net-zero emissions. Most importantly, as public budgets are under stress, Europe needs to leverage more private finance for the transition. 

European cleantech companies suffer from a patient capital funding gap. This manifests as “a lack of equity”, “limited venture debt” or “low appetite for funding” for first-of-a-kind facilities, and scale-up manufacturing for clean technologies. This is felt the hardest by start-up innovators in small companies without access to large corporate, or government, balance sheets. More needs to be done to engage institutional investors such as pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and impact investors. The EU needs to find innovative ways to leverage private finance, for instance through public guarantees. Participants of this session discuss the types of instruments that will be needed in the ‘next phase of the European Green Deal’ and in the next political cycle to leverage private finance.

Governments and public sector organizations are striving to improve outcomes for society and the environment. They are also digitalising public services with limited resources and can’t afford to reinvent the wheel. Europeans – especially the 150 million citizens living in border areas – want high quality digital public services that are accessible to cross-border users. The Interoperable Europe Act, a proposal for a regulation put forward by the European Commission, offers ways to respond to all of these challenges by facilitating cross-border interoperability and cooperation in the public sector across the EU. A political agreement has just been reached on the legal text, so the panel will be able to take stock and discuss how the Act is likely to bring the digital transformation of government to its next phase.

• What kind of eGovernment do we want in a digital and sustainable Europe?
• Where does Europe stand today on eGovernment and cross-border services?
• How can interoperability facilitate digitalisation in the public sector – from citizen services to cloud and security?
• Does interoperability mean more standardisation?
• Practically, how can we facilitate more exchange among European public administrations?
• How to ensure that digitalisation puts the needs of citizens and businesses first – and that no one is left behind?

States around the world were quick to offer significant subsidies to protect the competitiveness of their industries during 2022, both to bolster greener industry and clean technologies and to mitigate the energy crisis. However, concerns remain that a new phenomenon of ‘green protectionism’ is emerging although ensuring that these measures do not create unfair advantages for certain industries or countries will prove crucial:

• How can the EU maintain a level playing field and an open economy in the context of strategic autonomy and increased environmental concerns?
• What cooperation with third countries is needed along with action from EU, to balance strategic autonomy with openness?
• Can the Green Deal Industrial Plan counter the IRA?

The EU and the global community are currently grappling with a “poly-crisis” era, characterized by major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, and the climate crisis. This complex landscape needs a fundamental rethinking of governance and policy paradigms, emphasizing collaboration and adaptability, even during emergencies. In response to recent global events, there’s a growing emphasis on learning from the past five years, anticipating the future direction of the EU, and addressing urgent priorities, including evaluating election processes for democracy and representation, empowering European parties, and restoring trust between citizens and their representatives.

The European Green Deal’s Circular Economy Action Plan, introduced in March 2020, is a pivotal initiative aimed at reducing the EU’s ecological footprint and doubling its circular material use within a decade, bolstering economic growth in the process. By adhering to circular economy principles, the EU strives to minimise waste generation; champion recycling and reuse, and optimise resource value across their lifecycle. Achieving this entails effective waste management practices such as sorting, robust recycling infrastructure, and extended producer responsibility, leading to reduced environmental waste impact, resource conservation, and the establishment of circular economy that promotes sustainable consumption and production patterns.

• How can the EPR scheme effectively incentivize eco-design and support the shift towards closed-loop sectors? What measures can be taken to enhance transparency and reporting within EPR schemes to ensure reliable data and accountability in waste management?
• How can policymakers, industry stakeholders, and innovators collaborate to establish a framework that not only fosters innovation but also ensures that emerging technologies, products, and services adhere to circularity principles?
• How can the transition to circular economy enhance the resilience of supply chains?
• How will private financing contribute to investments in the Circular Economy?
• How to achieve the multifaceted goals of of reducing pressure on natural resources while at the same time creating sustainable growth and jobs?

Following the success of her book ‘The Brussels Effect’ which argues that the EU remains an influential superpower in the modern age, esteemed scholar Anu Bradford will give insights on how a new digital ecosystem, encompassing AI, new and alternate digital spaces along with increased consumption of content from online platforms, brings an array of challenges and opportunities for EU regulators, consumers, and businesses alike. The EU has made strides towards regulating large platforms, cracking down on disinformation and seeking to protect consumers however ensuring that the EU can keep up with new advancements will be key to ensure a safe, open and pioneering Europe:

• Can the ‘BrusselsEffect’ of setting global standards be continued or is the EU losing credibility?
• How can the EU foster long-term sustainable innovation?
• What further policies are needed?

Innovation and sustainability have become indispensable pillars for creating a brighter and more resilient future. As the world evolves and faces complex challenges, the concept of a Single Market emerges as a powerful catalyst for driving progress. By integrating economies, removing barriers, and encouraging collaboration, the Single Market facilitates the exchange of ideas, technologies, and resources, fostering innovation and sustainability across borders.

• How can businesses leverage the opportunities presented by the Single Market to foster innovation and expand their reach across international borders?
• What are the key challenges that businesses may face when navigating the complexities of the Single Market while simultaneously striving to maintain a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability?
• How can these challenges be overcome to ensure long-term success and growth?

Industry in Europe faces an unprecedented number of new challenges, from a slowdown in global trade and climate change. In an ever-changing world, industry remains the backbone of the European economy, delivering high-quality jobs, innovation and world-class companies. Thus, to stay ahead of the curve and retain its competitive edge, the EU must embrace change and renew its industrial strategy.

• Is funding for companies to invest in Cleantech and other strategic sectors available and easily accessible?
• Is the EU regulatory environment conducive to business and investment?
• Will states be ready to accept risks when trying to foster breakthrough technologies?
• What governance mechanisms should be established to reduce the failure rate of projects?
• How can the EU address predicted skills gaps to meet sectorial needs and ensure that these talents and expertise remain within Europe?

The EU and the global community are currently grappling with a “poly-crisis” era, characterized by major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine conflict, and the climate crisis. This complex landscape needs a fundamental rethinking of governance and policy paradigms, emphasizing collaboration and adaptability, even during emergencies. In response to recent global events, there’s a growing emphasis on learning from the past five years, anticipating the future direction of the EU, and addressing urgent priorities, including evaluating election processes for democracy and representation, empowering European parties, and restoring trust between citizens and their representatives.

Europe’s agricultural sector and food systems are facing unprecedented challenges that
are being amplified by the war in Ukraine, including climate change, biodiversity loss, soil loss, droughts and floods. Only by swiftly improving agricultural sustainability can the EU ensure the sector’s long-term success, ensure food security and achieve the Green Deal’s objectives of a 50 % reduction in the use of chemical pesticides and a 25% increase in the share of organic farming:

• How can the EU support agricultural competitiveness that respects environmental concerns?
• How to further promote circularity in agricultural supply chains?
• What is needed to decarbonize European food systems and ensure resilient food supply chains across the bloc?
• What role for regenerative agriculture, precision farming and mineral fertiliser alternatives?

As the EU makes strides towards a digital future, with the potential to boost Europe’s resilience and competitiveness through more efficient use of resources and ensuring a level playing field in Europe and beyond, it is important to make sure that the benefits of new technologies can be enjoyed by all:

• How can businesses, in particular SMEs, be supported to adapt to digital operations
• How can the EU keep-up with the evolving and the skills required by new technologies?
• What infrastructure will be needed to ensure that the EU remains digitally competitive?
• How to increase capacity for R&D, to further reinforce innovation within the Union?
• How can companies effectively work within the framework of regulations and ensure compliance?
• What strategies, tools, and support can the EU provide to help companies effectively manage and streamline their operations in the face of regulations?