Marina Kaljurand, assuming her role as Chair, reflected on her career in cybersecurity and diplomacy. She emphasized the importance of cooperation among governments, civil society, and the private sector in addressing digital challenges. Kaljurand praised the EIF as a unique platform for these discussions and encouraged further collaboration. She outlined upcoming digital policy debates and educational initiatives, expressing commitment to ensuring a collaborative, inclusive approach to digital governance.

Ajit Jaokar, presenting findings from EIF’s “Digital World towards 2040” foresight report, emphasized AI’s role as a transformative force for Europe. He discussed the concept of “intelligent autonomy,” where humans and AI collaborate, and highlighted the societal and economic shifts AI would bring. Jaokar stressed the need for regulatory frameworks that support ethical AI development and address AI’s potential to reshape the social contract between governments and citizens, urging a focus on skills development and cooperation across sectors.

Renate Nikolay of the European Commission reflected on Europe’s digital policy progress, citing achievements like the Digital Services Act and the AI Act. She noted the challenge of balancing regulation with innovation, advocating for a framework that encourages technological advancement while safeguarding ethics and transparency. Nikolay emphasized the need to continue closing gaps in connectivity, supercomputing, and data governance to ensure Europe remains competitive and digitally sovereign.