On Thursday 5 June, the European Commission presented its ‘International Digital Strategy’, which aims to deepen cooperation between the EU and strategic partners.
The text presented does not deviate from that detailed by Agence Europe on Wednesday 4 June (see EUROPE 13652/11).
It continues to emphasise pragmatic cooperation, “not only with long-time like-minded partners, but with any country with which we share common objectives. On digital technologies, as in all fields, the EU is open for business and its businesses are open to the world”, it says.
“The EU will spare no effort to strengthen its competitiveness, but it will also work with its partners to support their own digital transitions. No country or region can lead the technological revolution alone”, said European Commissioner Henna Virkkunen, responsible for Technological Sovereignty.
Countries such as India, South Korea, Taiwan and Canada appear to be the preferred partners for the strategy’s deepened cooperation. The EU also plans to continue and develop its links with Central Asia and South America.
The now special case of the relationship between the United States and the EU in terms of technological and digital cooperation and exchanges is not directly addressed in the strategy.
For Henna Virkkunen, large US companies are a “very important economic cog in the European single market”, but must take account of the Union’s “specific rules”.
“For a long time, the United States was our most essential strategic partner. Of course, we always want to cooperate with countries that share our objectives and values”, stressed the Commissioner. “However, the EU is determined to strengthen its own capabilities in artificial intelligence and critical technologies”, she added.
As for China, which is not mentioned in the document, “the dialogue is still ongoing”, said Henna Virkkunen. An EU-China summit is due to take place over the summer, with digital technology expected to be a key point for discussion.
See the Strategy: https://aeur.eu/f/h6w (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)