The Diplomat
The D9+ forum, which brings together the thirteen most digitalized countries in the EU, including Spain, called this Thursday in Amsterdam for a “coherent and forward-looking European strategy” that will “increase the EU’s digital competitiveness and technological sovereignty.”
The Dutch capital hosted the meeting of the D9+ forum, made up of the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Slovenia, to coordinate digital policies and ensure that legislation supports innovation, growth, and cybersecurity.
The meeting, attended by Henna Virkkunen, Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, concluded with a joint declaration in which participants called for a “coherent and forward-looking European strategy” for the EU to assume technological leadership in strategic areas such as Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and data by 2035, in order to “increase the EU’s digital competitiveness and technological sovereignty.”
“The EU’s competitiveness will increasingly depend on the digitalization of the economy in all sectors and on strengthening its leadership in advanced technologies, which will drive investment, job creation, and wealth,” the text continues.
Therefore, and after noting that “public funds are limited,” the D9+ forum calls for a reduction in barriers to private investment, the creation of better conditions for the growth of technology companies, and the simplification of access to financing, especially for startups.
They also urge the European Investment Bank (EIB) to increase its investment volume in venture capital, advocate leveraging the “joint purchasing power” of the EU and national governments to strengthen Europe’s position in the digital sphere by strengthening critical technologies, and cooperate with like-minded partners to protect European interests and coordinate technological regulation.
In statements to the press, the Minister for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, Óscar López, called for “Europe to invest in Europe” with the aim of gaining technological sovereignty in the current global race for technological hegemony. He called for a European third way, compared to other models, that “combines innovation, human rights, and well-being” for citizens.
