Digital Sovereignty in Europe: Protecting the European Digital Model in the Current Global Context

European Parliament
Rue Wiertz 60
1047 BRUSSELS
Rue Wiertz 60 1047 BRUSSELS

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S&D Group, Political Group, European Parliament, EU ECFR, Think Tank, EU

Digital Sovereignty in Europe: 

Protecting the European Digital Model in the Current Global Context 

Date : 
12/05/2026 
Time : 
18:00 - 20:00 
Location : 
Room ASP 3G2, European Parliament (Brussels) 
 

Live Stream 

 

Follow the live debates of the conference 

 

About the Event 

 

The event will address one of the most pressing challenges that the European Union is currently facing: how to ensure democratic accountability, consumer protection, and strategic autonomy in the digital space. At a time when a small number of platforms exert significant influence over public discourse, and as geopolitical tensions increasingly affect the enforcement of EU digital rules, this discussion aims to take stock and look ahead.

The session will open with introductory remarks by myself, followed by a keynote speech by EVP Teresa Ribera.

The programme will be structured around two panels:

The first panel will examine the EU’s existing digital regulatory framework—globally pioneering instruments such as the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act and AI Act—and the challenges related to their effective implementation in the current geopolitical context, including growing external pressure on the EU’s digital acquis.

The second panel will look forward, focusing on how to further develop the EU’s regulatory framework while strengthening its technological base. It will explore how to address remaining regulatory gaps and advance Europe’s digital sovereignty (PDF) through investment in strategic sectors, with a view to reducing dependencies and reinforcing Europe’s rules-based digital model.

 

Hosted by 

 
Laura BALLARÍN CEREZA, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Group, Spain

Laura BALLARÍN CEREZA

MEP FlagMEP  Spain Flag Spain 

Member of the European Parliament

 S&D Logo S&D  Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament  |  PSOE Logo PSOE  Partido Socialista Obrero Español 
Laura BALLARÍN CEREZA

Committees

COORD IMCOInternal Market & Consumer Protection
AFETForeign Affairs
ITREIndustry, Research & Energy

Delegations

DACPDelegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
DAFRDAFR Delegation
D-USD-US Delegation
DMEDDelegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean
 

Speakers 

 
⬇ Programme
Teresa RIBERA, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Commission, EU

Teresa RIBERA

Executive Vice-President of the European Commission (EVP)
Clean Just and Competitive Transition

Christel SCHALDEMOSE, Member of the European Parliament, S&D Group, Denmark

Christel SCHALDEMOSE

MEP FlagMEP  Denmark Flag Denmark 

European Parliament Vice-President

 S&D Logo S&D  Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament  |  Socialdemokratiet Logo S  Socialdemokratiet 
Christel SCHALDEMOSE

Committees

IMCOInternal Market & Consumer Protection
EUDSEUDS Committee
ENVIEnvironment, Public Health & Food Safety

Delegations

D-JPDelegation for relations with Japan
DEEADelegation for Northern cooperation & for relations with Switzerland & Norway & to the EU-Iceland & EEA Joint Parliamentary Committees
Kim van SPARRENTAK, Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA Group, Netherlands

Kim van SPARRENTAK

MEP FlagMEP  Netherlands Flag Netherlands 

Member of the European Parliament

 Greens Logo Greens  Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance  |  GL-PvdA Logo GL-PvdA  GroenLinks-PvdA 
Kim van SPARRENTAK

Committees

IMCOInternal Market & Consumer Protection
EUDSEUDS Committee
EMPLEmployment & Social Affairs

Delegations

DAFRDAFR Delegation
DPAPDelegation for relations with the Pan-African Parliament
DACPDelegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
Asha ALLEN, Secretary General, Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe, EU

Asha ALLEN

Secretary General

Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe

Cori CRIDER, Director, Future of Technology Institute, EU

Cori CRIDER

Director

Future of Technology Institute

Sandro GOZI, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe Group, France

Sandro GOZI

MEP FlagMEP  France Flag France 

Renew Presidency

Member of the European Parliament

 Renew Europe Logo Renew  Renew Europe Group  |  MoDem Logo MoDem  Mouvement Démocrate 
Sandro GOZI

Committees

IMCOInternal Market & Consumer Protection
AFCOConstitutional Affairs
REGIRegional Development
EUDSEUDS Committee

Delegations

CHAIR D-UKDelegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly
D-INDelegation for relations with India
Vera FRANZ, Founder & Executive Director, Economic Democracy Project, EU

Vera FRANZ

Founder & Executive Director

Economic Democracy Project

Martin HULLIN, Director, European Network for Technological Resilience and Sovereignty, EU

Martin HULLIN

Director

European Network for Technological Resilience and Sovereignty (ETRS)
Bertelsmann Stiftung Paris

José Ignacio TORREBLANCA, Distinguished Policy Fellow, ECFR, EU

José Ignacio TORREBLANCA

Distinguished Policy Fellow

ECFR

 

Programme 

 
Opening Remarks 
Laura Ballarín Cereza | S&D MEP | IMCO Coordinator 
Keynote speech 
Teresa Ribera | Executive Vice-President of the European Commission (EVP) | Clean Just and Competitive Transition 
Panel I. From Rules to Reality: Implementing Europe's Digital Regulatory Framework. 
Christel Schaldemose | MEP (S&D) | Rapporteur of the DSA 
Kim Van Sparrentak | MEP (Greens/EFA) | IMCO Coordinator | Shadow rapporteur of the Al Act 
Asha Allen | Secretary General | Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe 
Moderator: Cori Crider | Director | Future of Technology Institute 
Panel II. What Comes Next? Advancing in Europe's Digital Sovereignty by Closing Regulatory Gaps and Strengthening European Digital Infrastructure 
Sandro Gozi | MEP (Renew) 
Vera Franz | Founder & Executive Director | Economic Democracy Project 
Martin Hullin | Director | European Network for Technological Resilience and Sovereignty (ETRS) | Bertelsmann Stiftung Paris 
Moderator: José Ignacio Torreblanca | Distinguished Policy Fellow | ECFR 

Important – This event is by invitation, and only registered participants will be admitted. Due to capacity constraints, all attendees must register, including those already holding a European Parliament access badge. Registration is mandatory for admission.

MEP event
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European Parliament

Rue Wiertz 60 1047 BRUSSELS

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