European Digital Summit: Full speed ahead for AI

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Who decides on algorithms on the conditions for cloud and data usage? Having a real choice is the core of digital sovereignty, the prerequisite for democracy and economic well-being, says German Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) on Tuesday at the start of the Summit on European Digital Sovereignty in Berlin. Europe has been merely a customer and spectator for too long.

Regulation is too complicated, and infrastructure is not good enough, emphasizes Wildberger. This must change: “AI can become our comeback, the digital comeback for Europe.” For the German Digital Minister, artificial intelligence is much more than just another technical innovation; he believes that AI will change “the way we think, work, and solve problems.” This is also why Europe must move towards smarter regulation.

Lescure: Prefer European providers

France's super minister, responsible among other things for economy and digital affairs, Roland Lescure, does not contradict this, but differences between Berlin and Paris are emerging. Lescure sets different priorities than Wildberger: he is concerned with the enforcement of regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). And with providers who cannot be allowed for important functions in Europe, for example in the financial market.

“We need the principle of European preference in public procurement and regulation,” demands Lescure. The EU internal market and the 450 million Europeans are a superpower to help build sovereign European projects. But of course, it is not about a general exclusion of US providers.

The German-French engine is to drive the EU forward in digital sovereignty; that is the promise the two governments in Berlin and Paris have made to each other. Which is why they praise each other for joint projects: deregulation in favor of AI in Europe. In German government circles, they are pleased with the currently well-functioning cooperation in digital policy—and in Paris as well.

The timing for this German-French show of solidarity is not chosen by chance. On Wednesday, the EU Commission wants to present its so-called “Digital Package.” For this, Paris and Berlin have conveyed clear wishes to Brussels—largely coordinated with each other, according to those involved.

Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen already provides insights on Tuesday in Berlin into what the Commission is now planning: This includes a partial shift and adaptation of the AI regulation, as requested by both Berlin and Paris, as well as changes to data protection and other digital rules.

Summit of the Willing to Cooperate

But the summit is not just about political frameworks. One focus is on the economy. Numerous cooperations and investment decisions are announced in Berlin, be it the billions that the Schwarz Group is investing in a data center or the German-French cooperation in the development of the EUDI Wallet for a digital identity card.

“The signal we are sending today together with governments and industry comes at a crucial time for our continent,” says, for example, the President of the French IT industry association Numeum, Véronique Torner, in a joint statement with the German association Bitkom.

“France and Germany must now become the engine of technological innovation in Europe again,” says Wolfgang Weber from the Central Association of the Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry (ZVEI) in a joint statement with his French counterpart, FIEEC.

“Consistent Show of Solidarity”

However, some are not satisfied with what France and Germany are presenting together here. “We appeal to the German and French hosts of the Digital Summit to implement measures for digital sovereignty uncompromisingly and, if necessary, alone,” says Jan Oetjen, CEO of the Berlin-based hardware manufacturer Fritz (formerly AVM), for example, and calls for a consistent show of solidarity between Berlin and Paris.

But this tandem cannot achieve the required toughness. Those who listen more closely can sense the differences between the representatives from both capitals—and in the afternoon, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected at the summit. At least on one point, their ministers were in absolute agreement: decisive for the future of Europe was who leads and who follows. However, Lescure and Wildberger did not elaborate on this regarding the internal relationship between Paris and Berlin.

(mki)