The European Commission brought prominent digital technology stakeholders from across Europe together with the aim of reaching joint commitments to bolster the European Union’s digital future.
The European Commission (EC) today[1] brought together a diverse group of professionals from the fields of digital technology and telecommunications to further the cause of creating a "digitally strong EU."
Held in conjunction with the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), the one-day event in Brussels was specifically aimed at forging official commitments related to Europe's evolving digital future.
A follow-up to last year's EU Digital Day, which was held in Rome[2], this year's focus was on five priorities that will help the EU reach its goal of enabling "a competitive and socially secure society," as well as "better public services and security."
After briefly recapping[3] the progress since Rome, the event broke for coffee (it is Europe, after all) before discussing how to pave the way for the EU Artificial Intelligence Initiative[4], which focused on securing "commitments from EU Member States governments and key stakeholders from industry, academia and civil society," especially with regard to engaging in the European AI Alliance[5].
The afternoon was partially devoted to the Blockchain Partnership Initiative[6], which was featured in a session devoted to ensuring Europe "seizes all the opportunities offered by a transformative blockchain ecosystem." That ambition involves "building on existing leading initiatives, pooling forces and collaborating further on specific actions toward a European Blockchain Infrastructure for services of public interest."
The event highlighted how blockchain will work with other next-generation technologies to create a more digitally friendly and capable Europe. This sentiment was emphasized by EC Vice President Andrus Ansip, who
