On 30 May, CERRE hosted an exclusive conversation between Josep Borrell Fontelles, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission; Karen Melchior, MEP (Denmark, Renew); Alex Rogers, President, Global Affairs and Technology Licensing, Qualcomm and Bruno Liebhaberg, Founder and Director General of CERRE, to discuss topical issues around the Global Governance of Digital Ecosystems.
PRESERVING REGULATORY CONVERGENCE; ORGANISING CO-EXISTENCE
The world is moving at an accelerated pace towards a technological decoupling. It is no longer possible to assume that digital ecosystems will remain fully interconnected on a global scale. Establishing separate or non-compatible systems across geopolitical blocs could result in economic and technological lock-in for decades.
Against that background, CERRE has published in November 2022 a policy report, “Global Governance For The Digital Ecosystems (GGDE): Preserving Convergence and Organising Co-existence”. Prepared by a group of 30 top-level academics from Europe, the US, China, etc. and led by Pascal Lamy, former Director General of the World Trade Organisation, and Bruno Liebhaberg, the report looks at consequences and possible mitigation measures regarding divergences in the regulation of online platforms, data, infrastructure resilience and digital trade. It provides topical as well as horizontal recommendations including the establishment of a “Global Digital Board”.
Building on that report, CERRE is now launching the second phase of its flagship initiative. This will focus on cross-border data flows, AI and cybersecurity. It will also develop the Global Digital Board concept. The CERRE work complements other initiatives (e.g., from the UN, UNESCO, OECD, etc.) and will contribute with concrete policy ways and means to operationalise a much needed and efficient global governance for the digital ecosystems. The recommendations on a Global Digital Board have been presented to various policy makers at the top level, including President Macron and it has the support of the Indian G20 presidency which has decided to help incubate it in time for the Brazilian presidency. Contacts are also planned with the Brazilian government, which will hold the next G20 presidency, as well as with the Italian G7 presidency.
At our event, all speakers also echoed our efforts so far, and agreed on the importance of preserving regulatory convergence and organising coexistence in the context of the current global geopolitical tensions.
HR/VP Josep Borrell stressed the need for more engagement at the multilateral level and endorsed CERRE’s activities as extremely necessary and complementary to efforts in other fora like the UN Digital Compact. He highlighted the objective of developing regulation which ensures democratic valuesand provides an avenue for the EU’s own digital diplomacy. He pointed to the need to engage with third countries beyond like-minded partners. He also stressed the need for Europe to be at the forefront of technological development if it wants to be a world player, underscoring that the referee never wins the game.
MEP Karen Melchior emphasised the need for transparency and openness in digital policy cautioning against protectionist tendencies and calling for the adoption of factual, transparent and testable criteria when de-risking infrastructure and supply chains. She also stressed the potential, both negative and positive, that digital technologies have in affecting democratic processes and highlighted EU efforts in preventing adverse effects.
Alex Rogers addressed the need for transatlantic dialogue and highlighted how European digital legislation is providing choice for consumers beyond European borders. He emphasised the relevance for companies of having global standards and underscored the need for R&D investment. He stressed the need for Europe, if it wants to play a major role in global tech and digital ecosystems, to achieve sufficient scale (e.g., regarding size and number of telecom operators, number of 5G base stations, etc.) and fully implement its single market.
All speakers agreed on the need for multilateral coordination on digital policy beyond the transatlantic partnership, and welcomed the CERRE recommendation for a Global Digital Board.
Watch the full recording of the exclusive conversation on our YouTube channel:
