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European Commission released in the beginning of June 2025 the results of a consultation highlighting stakeholders’ views on opportunities and challenges for the future of the world-wide internet governance and the EU’s role in the area. The results summarize the responses to 17 questions on “Internet Governance”, posed during the targeted consultation, which was conducted during November 2024 and January 2025.
Background
The consultation is part of the Commission’s preparation for the 2025 UN World Summit on the Information Society: 20-year review (WSIS+20), and is a response to the Council’s request for an EU strategy on multi-stakeholder Internet Governance. Public authorities, businesses, technical experts and civil society organisations provided input on the EU’s position on Internet Governance, specifically on the EU’s vision and role in advancing a global, open, secure and rights-based digital transition.
The consultation report highlights four main EU-wide “needs”:
– stronger EU action to safeguard an open and resilient Internet, amid rising cyber threats;
– better EU participation and coordination in multistakeholder Internet Governance forums;
– a balance between innovation and regulation for Web 4.0 governance; and
– support for the multi-stakeholder Internet Governance model to prevent the risk of Internet fragmentation and loss of reliability and availability of its functionalities
Based on the report’s findings, the European Commission is starting to prepare for critical milestones foreseen in 2025, in particular towards preparing for the WSIS+20.
This consultation is also part of the broader International Digital Strategy elaborated in the EU (described in detail below).
EU external actions for the digital agenda
As the digital revolution is reshaping economies and societies in a global geopolitical landscape (which is more challenging than ever), the new EU International Digital Strategy, EUIDS shows that the EU is a stable and reliable partner, open to digital cooperation with friendly allies.
The EU-wide efforts are aimed at boosting competitiveness in AI and other key technologies; besides, the EU-27 will also work with partners to support their own digital transition.
Generally, the strategy reaffirms the EU’s commitment to building a rules-based global digital order, in line with its fundamental values.
In the remarks by the Commission Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on the International Digital Strategy, she notes that the EU has a long-standing history of cooperation on digital priorities with countries worldwide, which includes the EU engagement through Trade and Technology Councils, various Digital Partnerships and Dialogues, and Digital Trade Agreements. The EU is also advancing collaboration under the Global Gateway initiative and through new Security and Defence Partnerships with allies.
The European Council requested one year ago that the Commission and the High representative to table a Joint communication to strengthen the EU’s leadership in global digital affairs; present EU’s international digital strategy is a response to this request.
The strategy is as well aimed at boosting the EU global competitiveness in key technologies like AI, quantum, cyber security or semi-conductors; the latter also remains a EU-wide priority. The strategy is also about actively supporting the digital transition of EU partners globally. Crucially, it reaffirms the EU’s unwavering commitment to building a rules-based global digital order, rooted firmly in the Union’s fundamental values.
Three lines of actions
The International Digital Strategy proposes working together at EU level around three lines of action.
= First, the EU will expand international partnerships: it will deepen existing Digital Partnerships and Dialogues with such states as Japan, Canada, Singapore, India and/ or South Korea, and with our EU’s neighbors. The EU will also establish new connections and foster collaboration through a new Digital Partnership Network; these efforts will strengthen the EU’s technological competitiveness and security, as well as that of its partners.
= Secondly, the EU will promote and boost the EU and partners’ respective tech competitiveness and sovereignty, as well as joint interests, trade and investment, research and/or regulatory cooperation, and attract talents in the fields of digital technology and AI. This cooperation with partner countries will focus on critical areas that are essential for a robust, secure and human-centric digital future, which is vital for the EU-wide critical sectors like energy, transport, finance and health.
The EU will also collaborate on advancements in areas such as AI, 5G/6G, semiconductors and quantum technologies in order to foster social cohesion, protect human rights and uphold democratic principles in the digital sphere. Strengthening the cyber defence of the EU-partner countries is a direct investment in the EU’s own security, as the EU seeks mutual recognition arrangements with key partners to simplify cross-border business and facilitate citizens’ mobility.
With this in mind, the EU will: a) continue promoting the protection of children online, freedom of speech, democracy and citizens’ privacy: b) deploy the “EU tech business offer” to partner countries, e.g. in Africa, Latin America or Asia by combining EU private and public sector investments, notably though Global Gateway, to support the digital transition of partner countries, incorporating components such as AI Factories, investments in secure and trusted connectivity, Digital Public Infrastructure, and/or cybersecurity. At the same time, the EU will promote Union’s digital technology solutions, regulatory approach, standards and values.
= Thirdly, the EU will continue promoting a rules-based global digital order in line with its fundamental values, including supporting tech competitiveness, economic and defence security, as well as values and interests of the EU member states and its partners through the cross-cutting priorities in all these actions.
Source and citation from: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_25_1443
The EUIDS objectives
The EUIDS has the following objectives:
– to expand international partnerships, by deepening existing Digital Partnerships and Dialogues, establishing new ones, and fostering collaboration through a new Digital Partnership Network, the EU will strengthen its tech competitiveness and security as well as that of its partners.
– to deploy an EU Tech Business Offer, by combining EU private and public sector investments to support the digital transition of partner countries, incorporating components such as AI Factories, investments in secure and trusted connectivity, Digital Public Infrastructure, cybersecurity, and more.
– To strengthen global digital governance, by promoting a rules-based global digital order, in line with the EU’s fundamental values.
Source and citation from: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/eu-sets-out-its-international-digital-strategy