Keynote speakers at the event include:
- Anthony Whelan, Director General of DG Competition, European Commission
- Agustin Reyna, Director General of BEUC, the organisation representing EU consumers
- Marko Mismas, Chair of BEREC and Director Akos
- Hubert Gambs, Deputy Director General for Digital transformation, Justice and Consumers, DG JUST European Commission
- Kamila Kloc, Director Digital Decade und Connectivity, DG CNECT, European Commission
- Erzsebet Fitori, Executive Director, Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking
On a day devoted to digital platforms and the data economy, we will explore questions such as:
- How can competition policy and enforcement adapt to new trends in the cloud and AI markets? What has been the experience in the implementation of the Digital Markets Act and Data Act? How might AI impact the value chain? Can improved access to data and interoperability enable European players to challenge global leaders? Is further action needed to boost competition in cloud computing?
- How can we protect consumers and safeguard children from unfair platform practices and the negative consequences of AI usage and dissemination? What has been achieved, three years from the application of the Digital Services Act? Can wider lessons be learned for the planned Digital Fairness Act? How will AI shape service delivery going forwards? What risks will it introduce, and how can AI support the enforcement of consumer protection rules? How can minors best be identified and protected? Should Europe introduce a ban on social media for minors? Is further action needed to combat dark patterns and give consumers agency over how their data is used? Can the rules be consolidated or streamlined? What role might proposals in the Digital Omnibus play?
- What options do have EU policymakers in a market environment dominated by foreign AI providers? What are the implications for security and digital sovereignty in Europe? Can Europe achieve technological sovereignty at this late stage? Where are the critical dependencies and in which areas is the EU best-placed to achieve leadership? Can the Eurostack provide a blueprint to build Europe’s capabilities? How far will the Commission’s proposed Cloud and AI Act and Chips Act 2 take us on the road to reclaiming digital sovereignty?
On a day devoted to the latest developments in telecom policy and implementation, we will debate questions such as:
- Does the proposed Digital Networks Act offer sufficient ambition to deliver full fibre and future mobile networks in Europe?
- What strategies have proved to be successful in delivering full fibre coverage and copper switch-off? How can the needs of remote populations and vulnerable customers best be addressed, and what might be the role of State Aid and universal service going forwards?
- What should be the role of access regulation in a full fibre environment? How will markets look after copper has been switched off? What should be the future role of asymmetric (significant market power) vs symmetric regulation of fibre access in this environment and what does this mean for the Relevant Market Recommendation? How can access to ducts and poles best be assured? What is the experience in countries which successfully implemented duct and pole access under SMP regulation and the GIA? What are the implications for the planned guidance on the Gigabit Infrastructure Act?
- What went wrong with 5G? What do businesses and consumers need, and why haven’t investments materialised? How can we ensure that Europe benefits from future developments in mobile including 6G? Will the spectrum proposals in the Digital Networks Act deliver what is needed? What could be the implications of the EU’s proposed new merger guidelines on mobile markets and consumers going forwards?
- How can Europe safeguard network security while maintaining competition and investment in essential infrastructure? What are the implications of the Cybersecurity Act 2 on European mobile markets?
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