ITI Insights: Europe Focus May Newsletter
Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)
ITI is the premier global advocate for technology, representing the world's most innovative companies.
Dear readers,
As the EU elections take place this week, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) team in Brussels is focused on what the future of tech and trade policy looks like on the continent.
With so many discussions on what a competitive Europe and a strong single market look like in the next five years, we are striving to make our ITI Vision 2030 a reality.
The upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU offers a strategic opportunity to lay the groundwork for robust policies that will drive Europe's competitiveness and technological innovation. ITI’s policy recommendations for the Hungarian Presidency lay out key measures the presidency can take in support of these objectives and our recent trip to Budapest provided a platform for engaging discussions on a way forward with key stakeholders.
ITI looks forward to continuing its fruitful engagement with the upcoming Hungarian Presidency and EU institutions. You can read more about how we are going to do that below.
Happy reading,
ITI Spotlight: Recommendations to the Incoming EU Council Hungarian Presidency
Ahead of the transition to the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU this summer, ITI provided recommendations aimed at boosting Europe's economic competitiveness, enhancing the Single Market's functionality, and advancing key digital policy areas such as connectivity, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and AI.
To support the upcoming presidency’s development and implementation of its digital agenda, ITI recommends that the Hungarian Presidency prioritize:
Carefully assessing regulatory needs in the connectivity and telecoms space.
Implementing the solid framework of cybersecurity regulations.
Taking a pro-innovation approach to AI policy.
Read ITI's full policy recommendations for the EU Hungarian Presidency here.
ITI Travels to Budapest
ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman and ITI Director General Guido Lobrano traveled to Budapest to discuss ITI’s recommendations for the Hungarian Presidency with high-ranking Hungarian officials.
ITI’s recommendations focus on carefully assessing regulatory needs in the connectivity and telecoms space, implementing the solid framework of cybersecurity regulations, and taking a pro-innovation approach to AI policy. These themes will be crucial in setting the tone for the next five years of tech policy.
ITI Board of Directors Convene in London to Discuss 2024, 2025 Tech Priorities
Last Month, ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman convened ITI’s Board of Directors in London for a multi-day Spring Board meeting. The focus was on global advocacy and key tech priorities for 2024 and 2025. Notable tech industry leaders, including MP Greg Clark, President and Chairman of the International Advisory Board at Global Counsel Peter Mandelson, and Deputy Chief of Mission at Embassy London Matthew Palmer, provided valuable insights into the tech landscape and shared crucial policy considerations.
Council of the EU Adopts Digital and Cybersecurity Policy Conclusions
The Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on the future of digital policy, emphasizing the importance of implementation. ITI Director General Guido Lobrano praised this focus, noting that effective implementation is crucial for maintaining Europe's competitive technology industry. ITI urges other institutions, especially the European Commission, to prioritize this vision over the next five years.
The Council also adopted conclusions on the future of cybersecurity, marking a significant step towards a more secure Europe. ITI Policy Manager Laura Wiesenfeld highlighted the strong focus on implementation, reducing overlap and fragmentation, and the emphasis on developing a skilled cybersecurity workforce as key aspects of the Council's conclusions.
Balanced Approach Crucial to Ensuring GDPR Effectiveness
Following the EU Council’s adoption of a general approach on the GDPR Procedural Regulation proposal, ITI urged negotiators to adopt a balanced approach to GDPR enforcement that keeps in mind four key priorities;
Preserving the One-Stop-Shop Mechanism;
Safeguarding the investigated parties right to be heard in practice at all stages;
Ensuring the protection of confidentiality; and
Incentivizing early resolution and enhancing cooperation and amicable resolutions.
Recent and Upcoming Events
ITI Senior Policy Manager Marco Leto Barone joined global tech policy leaders at the DIFVI 'Digital International Forum - AI for a sustainable future' in Bucharest to discuss strategies to bolster AI development in Europe, effective implementation of the EU AI Act, and European competitiveness.
ITI hosted a roundtable discussion with Director at the European Commission’s DG CNECT Thibaut Kleiner to discuss topical issues for the EU’s policy agenda, including EU economic security strategy, the EU – US Trade and Technology Council (TTC), and the Commission’s international engagement on AI.
ITI also hosted eric philippart, who assisted former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta in the drafting of his Single Market Report, to discuss ways forward for Europe to complete the Single Market, European competitiveness, and attracting investment at a growing rate. ITI looks forward to collaborating with stakeholders to identify roadmaps for smart implementation and smart deregulation where possible.
ITI in the Press
Press Releases:
ITI Details Recommendations to Enhance EU Competitiveness for Incoming Hungarian Council Presidency
ITI, Industry Coalition Call to Preserve Encryption in Child Sexual Abuse Regulation
In the News:
Politico: Diplomats look ahead on cyber policy
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