Conference on the Future of Europe: Digital Transformation

Written by Innovation & Strategy

The Conference on the Future of Europe’s aim is to debate how the EU should develop in the future and to give European citizens a voice in the process, announced Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her inaugural address.

People’s ideas will be collected on the Digital Platform, in European Citizens’ Panels and de-centralised conference events all over Europe. The Conference Plenary – comprised of representatives of the Citizens’ Panels, the Parliament, the Council, the Commission, national parliaments, the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, social partners and the European Youth Forum – will then discuss the ideas put forward. Launched in April 2021, the conference is expected to reach conclusions and provide guidance for the European institutions to follow up, by spring 2022.

The conference topics are divided into nine areas, with one additional ‘open’ area, reserved for out-of-the-box ideas. The topics are: ‘Climate change and the environment‘, ‘Health‘, ‘A stronger economy, social justice and jobs‘, ‘European Union in the world‘, ‘Values and rights, rule of law, security‘, ‘Digital transformation‘, ‘European democracy‘, ‘Migration‘, ‘Education, culture, youth and sport‘, and ‘Other ideas‘.

Discussion in this category will cover questions such as: How can we use technology to improve our daily lives and to ensure better healthcare and security? How can we make the online world more accessible and safe for all Europeans? How can we ensure that all of Europe benefits from new online services? How can we foster a sustainable society and help become climate-neutral by 2050?

To support the proceedings of the conference, our EPRS policy analysts have prepared research material, available here in reverse chronological order. The following list will continually be updated as the conference unfolds:

What if the Internet failed?
‘At a glance’ note by Lieve Van Woensel, September 2021, 2 pages.

What if deepfakes made us doubt everything we see and hear?
‘At a glance’ note by Philip Boucher, September 2021, 2 pages.

Regulating facial recognition in the EU
In-Depth Analysis by Tambiama André Madiega and Hendrik Mildebrath, September 2021, 38 pages.

Artificial intelligence in criminal law
‘At a glance’ note by Sofija Voronova, September 2021, 1 page.

EU cyber-defence capabilities
‘At a glance’ note by Tania Latici, September 2021, 2 pages.

The EU digital decade: A new set of digital targets for 2030
Briefing by Maria Del Mar Negreiro Achiaga, August 2021, 8 pages.

Initial appraisal of EC impact assessment – Artificial intelligence act
Briefing by Hubert Dalli, July 2021, 9 pages.

Artificial intelligence at EU borders: Overview of applications and key issues
In-Depth Analysis by Costica Dumbrava, July 2021, 32 pages.

Recent cyber-attacks and the EU’s cybersecurity strategy for the digital decade
‘At a glance’ note by Ann Neville, June 2021, 2 pages.

Data Governance Act
Briefing by Hendrik Mildebrath, June 2021, 12 pages.

Digital markets act
Briefing by Tambiama André Madiega, May 2021, 12 pages.

Digital Europe programme: Funding digital transformation beyond 2020
Briefing by Marcin Szczepański, May 2021, 10 pages.

The new European cybersecurity competence centre and network
Briefing by Mar Negreiro, May 2021, 12 pages.

Roaming Regulation review
Briefing by Mar Negreiro, May 2021, 10 pages.

A European strategy for data
‘At a glance’ note by Hendrik Mildebrath and Guillaume Ragonnaud, March 2021, 1 page.

Digital services act
Briefing by Tambiama André Madiega, March 2021, 12 pages.

Democratic scrutiny of social media platforms and protection of fundamental rights
‘At a glance’ note by Tambiama André Madiega, February 2021, 1 page.

The NIS2 Directive: A high common level of cybersecurity in the EU
Briefing by Mar Negreiro, February 2021, 11 pages.

Rethinking education in the digital age
Study coordinated by the EPRS STOA unit, January 2021, 64 pages.

Digital automation and the future of work
Study coordinated by the EPRS STOA unit, January 2021, 78 pages.

EU-USA: a transatlantic technology alliance
September 2021

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