East meets West Expert Series
An Expert Roundtable organised by the Europe-Asia Centre, Brussels – June 2024
In recent years, the digital landscape has become an integral part of European life, revolutionizing various sectors and redefining societal norms. While digital transformation brings undeniable benefits, it also introduces new challenges and risks, including threats to fundamental rights, democratic processes, and economic stability. As Europe navigates these complexities, it has emerged as a global leader in internet governance, evidenced by landmark regulations such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the Digital Services Act (DSA), and the world's first AI Act.
At the same time, the governance of cyberspace is undergoing significant evolution, driven by the proliferation of interconnected devices and advancements in artificial intelligence. This transformation has sparked a geostrategic competition for control over digital connectivity, highlighting the need for consistent and robust governance frameworks. Amidst these developments, the European Union (EU) seeks to strengthen its strategic autonomy and collaborate with key global partners, to shape the future of digital connectivity.
Finally, upcoming European elections and a potential shift in democratic majorities may have significant implications for European digital governance. As such, is it fundamental to understand the potential ramifications of a new Parliament on the EU’s approach to managing its digital transformation and working with other stakeholders to achieve its regulatory objectives.
By fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking discourse, the dialogue aims to identify synergies, enhance regulatory frameworks, and promote cooperation between the EU and Asia in the digital sphere. Discussion that is timely and critical in context of broader geopolitical developments, in order to address both the opportunities to shape the future of digital governance and cooperation between the EU and Asia.
Participating high-level guests
H.E. Dr. hc. Violeta Bulc, Vice-chair of the Europe – Asia Center and former EU Commissioner for Transport and Mobility (Slovenia)
H.E. Josianne Cutajar, Member of the European Parliament (S&D, Malta) and rapporteur on the AI Act (Malta)
Participating experts
Mrs. Mireia Paulo, Head of Management of Centre for EU-Asia Connectivity (CEAC), Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, Lecturer and Research Associate at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB), and Arbitrator/Mediator at Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC) (Germany)
Mr. Siriwat Chhem, Co-Founder and President of the AI Forum, Advisor to the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia with the rank of Undersecretary of State, and Strategic Advisor to the Asian Vision Institute think tank (Cambodia)
Dr. Christiane Prange, Director of the Caralan Global Institute, Adjunct Professor at Zhejiang University International Business School, and Research Director of the Europe-Asia Center (Germany)
Roundtable moderator
Mr Matic Gajsek, Director for Europe, Europe – Asia Center (Belgium)