EU Policy Implementation

Today, Europe is at a pivotal moment—with artificial intelligence offering an unprecedented chance to boost productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth. That’s why I’m so excited to share OpenAI’s new EU Economic Blueprint, a roadmap to ensure AI is developed and deployed by Europe, in Europe, and for Europe. Across the European Union, AI is already accelerating groundbreaking scientific discoveries, enhancing inclusivity in education, fueling the creation of innovative start-ups, and enabling companies of all sizes to work more quickly and efficiently. Estonia is incorporating ChatGPT Edu into its entire secondary school system, and Germany has more developers working on our API than any country other than the United States. At the same time, the Draghi report on European competitiveness rightly warned that the sheer breadth and quantity of EU regulations were hampering innovation, slowing economic growth, and posing an “existential challenge” to the EU’s future. There’s a better path, and the right policy and regulatory changes can maximize AI’s transformative potential and ensure Europe keeps pace in the global competition over the technology’s future. Our Blueprint’s proposals include: 1️⃣ Expanding the EU’s computing capacity by at least 300% by 2030, emphasizing geographically distributed infrastructure. 2️⃣ Europe launching a dedicated €1 billion fund to finance pilot AI projects demonstrating clear societal or economic benefits. 3️⃣ Training 100 million Europeans in foundational AI skills by 2030 through freely accessible online courses offered in all official EU languages. 4️⃣ Establishing an EU-funded initiative to support AI application development co-designed with young people and with the active participation of educational institutions and child-safety organizations. More broadly, we believe European policymakers should evaluate which AI regulations are boosting the EU’s AI sector and should be kept in place, and which rules are holding it back and should be revised. The goal should be coherent, EU-wide regulations that drive AI progress and are pulling in the same direction. I’ll be discussing the blueprint with policymakers across Europe this week, starting in Warsaw (where colleagues have promised to introduce me to Polish wine) before continuing to Brussels. We’re honored to partner with EU policymakers working to ensure that the continent that gave the world the Enlightenment can also lead it into the Intelligence Age. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gVWZh-z7

As Mario Draghi’s report released today demonstrates, the EU is falling behind global rivals because of limited innovation. Since 2019, the EU has created over 100 pieces of digital regulation. Whether you’re a technology startup or a small retailer, regulatory complexity is a minefield. Developing, launching or just using technology is harder in Europe than elsewhere in the world. Of course, “anything goes” is not an option and rules are required - but the EU is holding itself back at a time where it could be thriving. Our research with Public First shows that generative AI alone could add €1.2 trillion to the European economy. Much of Google’s innovation is led from Europe. We work with talented European entrepreneurs, businesses and innovators every day and see first-hand the benefits that the single market could yield for them. But a new approach is needed if Europe is not to miss the moment. Here’s what needs to change: 1️⃣ Shift from regulatory growth to economic growth: Europe doesn’t just create a huge number of regulations related to digital society - the regulations they create are often conflicting, untested and inconsistently implemented. The explosion of rules makes it almost impossible for Europe to create and nurture the next tech unicorns. Draghi is right that the EU now needs to focus on enabling innovation: promoting the use of digital technologies to innovate and drive through breakthrough advances. 2️⃣ Invest in R&D: To compete in AI, the EU needs to prioritise research and development, working with the private sector to incentivise it and make funding more accessible. The EU currently lags behind the US, Israel, South Korea, Japan, the UK and China on R&D investment. Without the right incentives to develop and roll out new technology, Europe is stifling its talent. 3️⃣ Build the right infrastructure: AI breakthroughs are only possible with the right computing technologies and data centres - plus the renewable energy to run them. So the EU needs to allocate more funding towards financing such infrastructure, as well as incentivising and enabling the private sector to do the same. 4️⃣ Prioritise skills & education: People will need support to seize the benefits of AI in their work and life. A revitalised European Skills Agenda should put skills and education at the centre, while AI should be added to school curriculums. Google wants to help Europe seize the benefits of innovation. Over the last decade, we’ve worked hand in hand with Governments to build new technology responsibly; train over 13 million Europeans in digital skills; and support over €179 billion in economic activity across the EU. As a European, I’m proud of this work, but I know there’s much more to do. Read Draghi’s report here: https://lnkd.in/epBxtymw

One year after the Draghi Report, we took stock with President Ursula von der Leyen, Mario Draghi, and key stakeholders. My message is simple: Draghi’s priorities remain Europe’s priorities. And in today’s more competitive and uncertain world, they are more urgent than ever. We have started to deliver. But Europe must move faster, with greater ambition and impact. The Commission will play its role—and I will push forward on tech sovereignty, security, and defence. That means accelerating our leadership in AI, quantum technologies, semiconductors, and cybersecurity. But this cannot be done by Brussels alone. We need Member States, political forces, and business to act together. And we must break taboos: mobilise equity, invest boldly in European tech and strategic projects, and give Europe the tools to win.

📰 Excluding non-EU companies is not the right path for our tech development My latest for EUobserver 🌍 In a world facing bleak demographic projections, economic growth will hinge on productivity gains, themselves increasingly dependent on technological progress. This is why technology is at the heart of geopolitical competition. 🚨But be careful: 1️⃣There may be no such thing as full dominance in technology. The current competition between🇺🇸and🇨🇳shows this. While the US leads in semiconductors, cloud computing, and AI, China is a global leader in solar panels, EVs, lithium batteries, drones, and high-speed rail. 2️⃣Being at the forefront of innovation may not be enough. What truly matters is having a productive ecosystem capable of adopting those innovations and translating them into tangible productivity gains. 🇪🇺 The EU fears losing ground in the global tech race. 2️⃣strategic pitfalls should be avoided: 1️⃣ Excluding non-European companies solely on the basis of origin → this would only lead to technological isolation and prevent European firms from accessing leading-edge technologies, ultimately undermining competitiveness 2️⃣ Replicating foreign models → diverting resources instead of building on🇪🇺own competitive advantages 🔎 To illustrate these points, I look at two key technologies: cloud computing and AI. ☁️ Cloud computing A few non-EU firms dominate the🇪🇺market, and there might be a temptation to introduce “Buy European” clauses. This would be fundamentally misguided. ✔️ As I argue in my latest policy paper for the Center for the Governance of Change, the EU already has the tools to ensure competitive cloud markets. The priority should be a three-pillar response: 🔹 Stronger competition law enforcement 🔹 Closing regulatory gaps through oversight of software licensing and interoperability 🔹 Strategic public procurement that supports European providers without excluding non-EU ones 🤖 AI The US dominates virtually every segment of the AI value chain. In response, the EU launched the AI Continent Action Plan. While promising in some areas, the push for Gigafactories risks massive investment with little impact given the scale mismatch with US firms. ➡️For instance, Meta alone will surpass 1.3 million GPUs by end-2025, while Europe’s five planned Gigafactories would jointly deliver around 500,000 chips only by 2028. ✔️ Rather than replicating brute-force strategies, Europe should pursue its own model — rooted in competitive but regulated markets, strategic demand power, smart specialisation, and trustworthy innovation. 📌 What Europe needs is a coherent approach grounded in four principles: 1️⃣ Fully enforce competition law 2️⃣ Build on Europe’s comparative strengths 3️⃣ Use trade defence instruments if necessary, but ❌ never exclude companies solely for being non-EU 4️⃣ Ensure that European firms can adopt and benefit from emerging technologies Link: https://lnkd.in/dxn6MbNN

Europe stands at a crossroads, facing pressure from geopolitical flashpoints and increasing protectionism, coupled with structural growth weaknesses. As we look ahead to 2025, Europe's top priority must be to strengthen its sovereignty in a shifting world order.   In my latest contribution to the World Economic Forum, I outlined four critical areas where Europe must take decisive action to maintain its place in the geo-economic showdown.    1️⃣ Europe must actively and pragmatically pursue free trade agreements. The recent breakthrough in the Mercosur deal presents a significant growth stimulus for the European economy and sends a strong message in favor of free, rules-based trade. What matters now is rapid implementation. 2️⃣ Europe needs to launch a strategic investment offensive for targeted funding of key technologies such as AI and quantum computing. Infrastructure investments for digital and green transformations are equally vital. 3️⃣ To effectively mobilize private capital, Europe must prioritize advancing the Capital Markets Union, enabling companies to access a wider array of European capital sources and enhancing economic sovereignty in an increasingly fragmented global economy. 4️⃣ Finally, we must simplify the regulatory landscape to facilitate faster project execution. This could involve implementing a “one in, two out” rule for new legislation and limiting the reappointment of retiring civil servants to one-third within the EU.   The path forward is clear: Europe's future geopolitical relevance hinges on a strong economy, necessitating massive investments and deregulation. It's time for Europe to step out of its comfort zone and prioritize its own interests to forge a stronger, more independent continent.   You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eRC7VK6K   #WEF25 #Europe #RolandBerger

It is time to treat competitiveness as the crisis it is. Unlike what happened with the COVID-19 crisis or the war in Ukraine, EU leaders don't unite behind a comprehensive vision with clear priorities for boosting European competitiveness. Most of them show a lack of imagination and revert to the lowest common denominator: cutting red tape. Simplification may help, but it does not constitute an industrial strategy capable of competing with industrial giants like China or petrostates such as the United States. The informal leaders’ retreat #EUCO today offers the opportunity to have a more meaningful debate on the fundamentals and tools of an industrial strategy ▶️ Do they intend to import digital solutions, defence equipment, health supplies, and cleantech wherever they are cheaper, or to seek greater strategic autonomy and resilience by producing them here? ▶️ Do they want to prolong dependence on petrostates or choose the path of turning the EU into an electrostate? ▶️ Do they prefer to let European talents, industries, and workers struggle with unfair competition, or to change the rules of the game and leverage the single market as a powerful industrial policy instrument? A series of no-regret options emerges: 🇪🇺 A ‘Made-in-Europe’ policy is one of them. It is not about closing the single market. It is simply ensuring that taxpayers’ money finances strategic industries locally rather than subsidising imports. Most of the EU's major trading partners, such as India, China, Brazil and the US, already use national preference policies. ⚡ Electrification is a second no-regret option. With limited gas and almost no oil reserves, the EU’s long-term economic health will ultimately depend on the power it can produce at home. My colleague Linda Kalcher and I believe EU leaders can either define a strategy that anchors industry, jobs, and innovation in Europe, or confirm that competitiveness will remain everyone’s priority and no one’s responsibility. Read our op-ed in Table.Briefings 👇 https://lnkd.in/eudMWCqk

In a fragmented world, scale is power. For Europe, scale can only come from unity. The global economy is being reshaped. Tariffs, energy shocks, supply chain disruptions and rising security tensions are not isolated crises, they signal a systemic shift. The challenge for Europe is no longer how to respond, but how to position itself in a world increasingly organised around continental-scale power. Today, as the European Commission is set to present its Single Market roadmap to the European Council, the 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 launches a new policy paper: “𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭.” This work is the result of a joint effort bringing together the Jacques Delors Institutes, in Paris and Berlin, AREL Single Market Lab and Friends of Europe. Our message is clear: Europe’s greatest vulnerability is its internal fragmentation - across capital markets, energy systems and digital spaces - with real costs for companies, consumers and Europe’s global influence. The response must match the scale of the challenge. Building on the momentum of the One Europe, One Market agenda, the paper sets out a concrete path to complete the Single Market by 2028, centred on three priorities: 🔹 a Savings and Investments Union 🔹 a genuine Energy Union 🔹 innovation, connectivity and scale for European firms These are supported by regulatory simplification, a stronger European research base, and a social and territorial dimension to ensure the benefits of integration are broadly shared. The choice is increasingly stark: deepen integration and act at scale or accept a gradual loss of relevance. Completing the Single Market remains Europe’s most powerful strategic asset. 👉 We invite policymakers, institutions and stakeholders across Europe to engage with this agenda and help turn ambition into action. This is only the starting point. 🔗 Read our "One Europe, One Market" paper here: https://lnkd.in/eKar5v-Q #DelorsFoEFoundation #OneEuropeOneMarket #SingleMarket #FutureOfEurope #EUCO IE University I IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs I Jacques Delors Centre I Jacques Delors Institute I Friends of Europe I AREL Single Market Lab I Borja Santos Porras I Tullio Ambrosone I Odysseas Konstantinakos I Catherine E. de Vries I İlke TOYGÜR, PhD I Daniel Fernández Kranz I Pablo Marco Blanco

Our new policy paper on European digital sovereignty, for a hard reset. Digital authoritarianism is on the rise. Meanwhile, Europe has become, with some notable exceptions, a digital colony. Technical dependence, in hardware and software, is a dangerous trend for both the European economy and democracy. To counter this, in our view, Europe must assert its digital sovereignty – not in isolation, but on its own terms. Hence “The European Way – A Blueprint for Reclaiming our Digital Future,” written by a strong and heterogeneous group of thinkers and practitioners, led by Kai Zenner and including, e.g., EuroStackers Cristina Caffarra, Sebastiano Toffaletti, AI insiders Dr. Miriam Meckel, Dr. Léa Steinacker, Dr. Till Klein, Dr. Frauke Goll, Björn Ommer, Rasmus Rothe, Joerg Bienert, Sebastian Hallensleben, and many more. Full text: https://lnkd.in/ewQKWmNK To operationalize this vision, we propose 6 interlocking reform packages: 1. Digital Infrastructure & Defence  Launch a European Digital Industrial Strategy that supports cloud, semiconductors, and quantum.  Develop a “EuroStack”—a modular, sovereign European tech stack.  Treat a digital and AI pivot in defence and cybersecurity, with a Digital Defence Fund, as core components of resilience and political autonomy.  Establish a European DARPA, support dual-use technologies, and think digital-first in defence procurement. 2. Digital Single Market & Industrial Policy  Complete the Capital Markets Union to fund digital innovation at scale.  Use public procurement to support European tech companies, via a "Buy European" framework.  Further update competition law to address data asymmetries and promote fair access to platforms.  Strengthen data spaces as a backbone for industrial collaboration. 3. Geopolitical Strategy  Build trusted digital trade partnerships with like-minded allies.  Develop an EU voice in global standard-setting bodies.  Promote tech diplomacy and increase Europe's global regulatory influence. 4. Governance & Institutions  Move toward coherent and principles-based digital regulation that supports innovation and flexibility.  Create a European Digital Enforcement Agency with unified powers for all digital acts, and clear political independence. 5. Energy Supply for the Digital Age  Forge a balanced Energy Mix Deal that supports both green energy and strategic autonomy.  Integrate the European electricity market to ensure stable supply for data centers and critical infrastructure.  Incentivize energy-efficient data infrastructure through regulation and support. 6. Digital Skills, Talent & Education  Launch an EU Tech Talent Initiative to expand training and retraining programs.  Introduce fast-track visas and intra-EU mobility tools to attract digital professionals - with adequate compensation via special funds. IMO, Europe can still lead—but it must act with urgency and vision.

🇪🇺 EU Council Recommendation on Human Capital (2025) The European Commission has proposed a major Council Recommendation on Human Capital, setting the EU’s priorities for skills, education and training for 2026–2027. https://lnkd.in/dWf6wVVX Here are the key takeaways ⬇️ 🌍 Why it matters ▪️Human capital is a strategic asset for EU competitiveness, innovation and resilience. ▪️Skills shortages are a critical constraint for green, digital and industrial transitions. ▪️Education & training systems must adapt faster and more strategically. 🔑 Key Messages 1️⃣ Skills shortages across Europe ▪️Persistent gaps in health, ICT, manufacturing, construction, transport, green skills. ▪️Growing demand for AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors and renewables. ▪️Faster, more flexible pathways to skills are essential. 2️⃣ Digital & green transitions accelerate skills needs ▪️AI and decarbonisation require STEM skills at all levels, from technicians to engineers. ▪️The EU must expand capacity in VET, higher education and lifelong learning. 3️⃣ Basic skills & inclusion ▪️High levels of underachievement in maths, reading and digital literacy. ▪️Stronger focus on early learning, personalised support and tackling disadvantage. 4️⃣ VET & apprenticeships ▪️Work-based learning delivers strong outcomes — but VET still faces image and gender-balance challenges. ▪️More STEM pathways, more female participation, and stronger industry partnerships are needed. 5️⃣ Teachers & trainers ▪️Shortages across many countries, especially in STEM. ▪️Need for stronger incentives, better training, and improved career attractiveness. 6️⃣ Lifelong learning ▪️Adult learning still far below EU targets. ▪️Stronger incentives for employers and clearer, more accessible pathways for adults. 7️⃣ Investment & skills intelligence ▪️Investment gaps remain significant. ▪️Better skills forecasting, evaluation and data are critical to guide reforms. ✔️ What the EU recommends ▪️Fast-track recognition of qualifications in key sectors ▪️Boost VET and apprenticeships, especially in STEM ▪️Strengthen basic skills, digital skills and AI literacy ▪️Expand lifelong learning with support for low-skilled adults ▪️Improve teacher supply and retention ▪️Reinforce skills intelligence and evaluation ▪️Target investment toward green/digital skills infrastructure 💡 Bottom line ▪️To secure Europe’s competitiveness and inclusiveness, the EU is calling for bold, targeted and collaborative action on skills. ▪️Education and training systems must become more agile, more inclusive and more aligned with strategic industrial needs. EU Employment and Skills Cedefop Eurofound European Training Foundation EfVET European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) European Vocational Training Association - EVTA EUproVET EURASHE eucen CoP CoVEs UNESCO-UNEVOC International Labour Organization OECD Education and Skills WorldSkills International

 Recommended report: “Twin Skills for the Twin Transition: Defining Green Digital Skills and Jobs” The EU is currently facing a significant digital skills gap, particularly in the context of the ongoing "Twin Transition" 🌱💻, which combines the green and digital transformations. This gap threatens both the EU’s competitive edge and its ability to meet its sustainability targets. It aims to foster a climate-neutral, digitally advanced Europe by 2050, with policies targeting skill development to support this evolution. #GreenTransition #DigitalSkills #ClimateNeutrality #GreenDigitalSkills refer to the competencies and knowledge required to use digital technologies effectively in ways that support environmental sustainability 🌍 and contribute to the green transition. In the context of the European Union’s "Twin Transition," green digital skills are crucial for achieving climate neutrality and fostering the integration of digital and green technologies in sectors like energy ⚡, manufacturing 🏭, transport 🚉, agriculture 🌾. Examples of green digital skills include: - Digital solutions for sustainable agriculture: Utilizing precision agriculture technologies to optimize resource use. 🌿 - Environmental impact monitoring: Using data analytics to monitor and mitigate pollution or resource depletion. 🌍 #GreenDigitalSkills #Sustainability #TwinTransition --- #Policy Recommendations: 1. Strengthen Digital and Green Education Frameworks: Incorporate digital and green skills training across all levels of education 🎓, particularly in vocational and higher education, to ensure that graduates are equipped with the knowledge needed for the green &digital economies. 2. Promote Lifelong Learning Initiatives: Expand lifelong learning programs 📚 focusing on upskilling and reskilling the current workforce in both digital and green sectors to bridge the skills gap in critical industries such as ICT, renewable energy, and environmental management 3. Public-Private Partnerships for Skills Development: Encourage collaboration 🤝 between governments, educational institutions, and private enterprises to develop tailored training programs that meet evolving industry needs, ensuring the alignment of skillsets with the demands of the green and digital transitions 4. Incentivize Green and Digital Innovation: Provide financial incentives 💶 such as grants or tax breaks for companies investing in the training and development of green and digital skills, especially in SMEs that may lack resources to upskill their workforce independently. 5. Monitor and Adapt Policies to Labour Market Changes: Establish a dynamic policy framework 📊 that continuously monitors labour market needs and adapts training and educational programs accordingly to address emerging skill gaps, particularly in sectors where rapid technological advancement is expected. #DigitalTransition #GreenInnovation #PolicyForProgress https://lnkd.in/eJsxVb_4