 Good afternoon a very warm welcome to you all. My name is Joyce O'Connor and I chair the digital group here at the Institute of International and European Affairs. And I'm delighted to welcome you to our webinar on the European Declaration of Digital Rights and Principles, a human centric vision of digital transformation. It's my great pleasure to introduce you to our distinguished speaker, Dr. Thibault Kleiner. Thibault, you're very welcome and we look forward to your presentation. And thank you especially for taking time out of your very busy schedule to be with us today. Thibault will talk to us for about 20-25 minutes and then I will go to your audience for questions and answers and please join us as usual in the discussion using the Q&A function at the bottom of our screen. Please feel also free to send in your questions during Thibault's presentation and I'll come to them once his presentation has finished. Please use the Twitter using the handle at IIEA and a reminder that today's presentation as ever is and Q&A are both on the record. We all are, I think, fairly clear that there are two key policies that underpin and are shaping the future of all EU member states, the digital agenda and the green agenda. And fundamental and key to the implementation of these twin policy pillars of digital and sustainability is the Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles. And that these principles and rights will promote a digital transition shaped by European values. This is a set of European rights and principles that affect EU values and promote a sustainable future, as well as outlining the rights that European citizens can expect to have. The Declaration on Human Rights and Principles reflects a shared goal of a digital transformation that puts people first. The European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles was signed in December 2022. Today, Dr. Kleiner will outline the Declaration's underpinning vision of a human-centered, secure and sustainable digital transformation in which no one is left behind. He will explain how the Declaration can help to provide a framework to shape the future of EU digital policy and Europe's digital transformation. This European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles is shaped and outlined by six themes or chapters that aim to guide policymakers, companies, especially companies in the new tech area, as well as outlining the rights of individual citizens can expect to have online. Finally, Dr. Kleiner will address the really critical issue of putting these digital principles and rights into practice. We're really very fortunate to have Dr. Kleiner with us today, an economist by training with the PhD from the London School of Economics. He is the Director for Policy Strategy and Outreach at the Director General for Communication, Networks, Content and Technology, commonly known by all of us as DG Connect in the European Commission. He has worked in the European Commission since 2001, including in areas such as competition policy and state aid. He's also supervised internet policies relating to internet governance, cybersecurity, cloud and data. He was head of unit in charge of network technologies such as G5 and the Internet of Things, prior to his heading up his current position in charge of strategy and coordination. Tebow, we look forward very much to your presentation. Many thanks, Joyce, for this introduction and many thanks especially for inviting me today. I think it's an interesting topic and I understand that also President Biden is in town in Dublin. We were just discussing that so it's, I think, an important moment for the whole of Ireland. And I think also a moment where we can join also forces around our common values in the EU but also with global partners. So today I had prepared a few slides, maybe we can try to show them. And I'm happy to give you a bit of an introduction on where we are with this European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles. It's something that the Commission, the three institutions actually, the Commission, the Parliament and the Council jointly signed last December. And it's a document that we hope will be guiding our activities in the digital remit for many years to come. And we think also it will be useful for business around the world, not only to understand where we stand in terms of the European vision on these things, but also to make sure that they can anticipate the direction of travel when they develop technologies. And I think that's also very important in Ireland. There are many tech champions located in Ireland. And very often now we try to use also this declaration on digital rights and principles to explain what we expect from these new policies, these new technologies. So today I wanted us to take you through a little bit the key elements in this declaration, starting from its origin, its genesis, if I may say, and also taking you through the key elements across indeed the six chapters that you described, Joyce in your introduction. So indeed, this declaration is not coming out of the blue. We've had for the last 10 years actually in fact some some cause from the European Parliament to be more specific about the ethical dimension of our policies in the digital remit, making sure that also we can spell out the guiding principles for our policies and our legislative proposals. There were also a number of initiatives from member states over the years. You know, for instance, a talent declaration was mostly focusing on the government, the idea that we need to digitalize also the public sector. The Berlin declaration was also very much focused on taking the whole society into this digital transformation. The Lisbon declaration also there tried to cover a whole range of ideas in terms of how digital democracy can be delivered in the EU. And there were also a number of national initiatives that we noticed, like also a charter of digital rights in Spain as well as initial ideas that were put in some legal format in Italy, for instance. So quite a rich background from the Council and Parliament, but really the turning point was for us in a way with the COVID pandemic, where I think many in the EU realized what we already knew but what became really obvious, which is the importance of digital technologies, not only for business but for actually every aspect of our lives. I think that it became very clear that in a situation where, you know, we were all in more or less in lockdown, suddenly people realized that already today digital technologies have the potential to empower our individuals, our citizens, you know, and that at the same time, there are risks in terms of exclusion from those who cannot really participate and also from the regions that maybe are not as well connected to the Internet. I think this was really an eye-opener and for the Commission, the opportunity to also take a stronger stance saying that now is also the time for the EU to explain what we stand for, what is really our vision for this digital transformation and what also maybe differentiates us from the approach that is followed in the United States, where maybe it is left to large platforms to organize principles and rules for the digital remit, or other models like in China, for instance, where the state is really at the core and controlling everything. We feel that there is a third way, a middle ground, so to say, and that very much fulfills the European approach. So that's why we decided in this digital compass to outline our vision and also to set to ourselves some targets for 2030 so that we can really make progress in that context. So that's why this idea came by. There was also a public consultation where it was clear that actually there was a demand from the citizens to have more clarity on what this European vision is. And we also had even a Eurobarometer survey really of all sorts of citizens, not only in the Brussels bubble, but across the EU that showed really expectations about also cyber security, protection of children, important elements that therefore we decided to integrate. So in the next slide just to flash out what this declaration is about really. It's about basically the EU vision for the digital transformation. It's about making sure that we can spell it out in simple terms beyond the rich legislative agenda that we pursued the last 10 years. And it was very important for us to make it clear that it's something that is shared at all levels so really between the three European institutions, representing really the you know the old citizens all the 27 member states, but also making sure that through this declaration we also commit to a series of elements, principles that we want to deliver also to our people. So the declaration really outlines this digital rights and principles. And it makes it makes it clear that we promote a human centered, a secure and sustainable digital environment where really no one is left behind and it's really reflecting what is at the heart of what the EU is about. The declaration is organized around six chapters that each one of them looks at a specific area of the, you know, the digital transformation. And what is important is that it tries to not only cover the ground around these parameters but also to make it clear what we commit to what exactly is the principle guiding us, but also what governments around the EU are meant to deliver and what citizens can expect from the European Union in terms of their rights, and in terms of the guiding principles for our policies so that's really, I think the value added of this proposal is not just to spell out a vision but it's also to be a document that will guide our efforts but also that we can revisit regularly to check if it is delivered and if the commitments that we are making are really in line with what is happening on the ground. So, with this, the six chapters just to in a nutshell and then I'll try to dig a bit deeper in each one of them. The starting point is really that we want to put people at the center the idea is that in Europe. Technology is there to serve people's rights and benefits. We are not the slave of the technology so to say so it has really to be putting people at the center. And we also want to make sure that there is responsibility from the technology providers so that the values are also impacting on the way the technology is developed. And an important principle is that indeed what is illegal offline is also illegal online so that you know this is this is very clear and it's something we found from the Eurobarometer survey. When we asked people we were surprised to find that many of our citizens fear that in fact they are not protected when they do something online they don't know in fact that they have rights they fear that in fact it's a bit like the Wild West. And it's something that happens to you too bad but you cannot do anything you know if you are victim of ransomware or anything like this. And that's something we need to change we need to make it clear that there are rights online as well that these rights will be enforced in the EU. Very important and we have elements around solidarity and inclusion this is called to model in the EU of welfare states and that's something also that is important online. The third chapter is about freedom of choice. So that's really the idea that, again, the online environment is also about freedom. It's not something where you should feel that you are dishumanized and that the technology takes over but on the contrary, where you can fulfill your expectations in terms of freedom of speech but also in terms of knowing what is happening with the technology. Fourth chapter is about participation so it's really about making sure that democratic processes at all levels can be enhanced. It's about very much also how AI artificial intelligence is used and how we make sure that individuals have control on their data and on how the technology impact their life, including for instance, in the labor market. The fifth chapter was very important because this was a finding also from our consultation is idea that you know safety and security is something that we need to enhance and to make clear to people because they don't always feel that they are protected. This is the case in the EU there are lots of laws that actually are in place, but we need to publicize it. And especially we wanted to make it clear that children must be protected online. And the last chapter last but not least is also about sustainability or it's really the idea that digital is also there to support the greening of our economy and our society. And that in fact also the digital technologies should become more sustainable and not contribute to a worsening of the state of the environment. So with these six chapters we are covering the ground we believe of all the areas that are relevant for the digital transformation. But we think also that it is a simple enough message that people can just read it. And we even have now produced a children version of this declaration so that also at school, people can use it and also be educated about you know this digital transformation and make it something that is really integral. In their understanding of the digital life. So now if you agree I wanted just to take you through a bit more details quickly so that I can also answer any questions you may have. So if we go back to indeed the digital compass for 2030. I just wanted to flag that this declaration really is a companion with a broader ambition that we've expressed which is that we need to also gain leadership in terms of the technologies. And we need to make sure that the EU is becoming as much as possible in charge of its own destiny in fact of this digital transformation. So what we did is that we set these targets for 2030 in four areas that we call the four cardinal points of our compass. And where we believe that they are symptoms of how we should you know become as good as possible to make this digital transformation a success for everyone. So the first point is that we want the skills to be there for everyone. We want all the people basically to have basic digital skills so that they can be included also in the digital transformation. And we want and this is critical for our competitiveness to have more ICT specialists 20 million by 2030 with more women actually working in this area. Second cardinal points we want to improve the digital infrastructures across the EU. So really a key commitment and this is something that you will find also in the declaration is connectivity for everyone. We want to make sure that everyone in the EU has access to broadband and high speed internet because this is a critical point to be involved in this digital transformation. But we also want to make sure that we are covering the ground in terms of essential elements like semiconductors like edge cloud and data or quantum computing which are really the technologies of the future. Because if we are not in the lead we may miss out also there and not be able to deliver this vision in our declaration. This will only be possible if we shape the technologies and that's something we want to do by 2030. Very important also we want to make sure that everybody participates we want to make sure that businesses are transformed through these digital opportunities. And we want to make sure that the government as well is sorry digitalized and takes really opportunities from things like digital identity. We have made some proposals there but also to deliver key public services also online to everyone in the EU. So with these targets, our expectation is that we have really a good objective and we are going to work together with the 27 member states to deliver these targets. And this is going to be a collective effort, not one member states can do it alone. This is something that we want to do together. And this is what brings us back to the declaration that is really the companion for these targets. We want to make sure that they are instrumental to really these key principles and this key digital rights. So in the next slide, again, going through it. So this declaration is about concrete commitments. It's also meant to be a reference framework for people and for guidance for policymakers but also for businesses and public administration. For instance, you know there is a lot about at the moment, you know this development around virtual realities. And we think that using this declaration is very important because business can understand what for us in the EU will be also the building blocks in terms of what we expect from things like the metaverse for instance. Same thing about artificial intelligence, we are developing legislation, but we want to make sure that beyond the legislation, they are these principles that can guide our future understanding. And that can also in simple terms explain to citizens what they are to express and they expect from companies but also from their governments. Very important, we also want to make sure that this is not just about the EU, but it's about actually the whole world. This declaration is based on universal human rights. And we want to make sure that we can actually promote the six pillars with our international partners and convince them that they should embrace the same ideas as we have developed in the EU. And embrace also our legislative approach so that they can protect their citizens and make sure that it is a positive transformation, not something that will alienate populations around the globe. Next slide, just to now take you through the various chapters. So indeed the first chapter is about this idea that technology should serve and benefit all people as I was saying a bit earlier. And that EU law and fundamental rights must be respected online as well as offline. This is really important because we want to make sure that we have no ambiguity on these elements that are essential. The second chapter is very important because it's about really solidarity and inclusion and something where we need to invest more. You know, there are many people still in the EU that are not using these technologies. They are worried or they are not educated enough. We want to make sure that everybody has access to connectivity as access to digital skills. And also we want to make sure that the technology is also about fair and just working conditions. That was an important point we discussed, notably with the European Parliament that was adding these elements also in the negotiations of the declaration so that it's very clear that technology is not there to control only, but it's there actually to improve working conditions. And also public services online is something that we wanted to emphasize. It echoes what I was just saying about our digital compass, but we wanted to make sure that in the declaration on digital rights and principalities very clear that digital public services is something for everyone in the EU. Next slide. So two more chapters to zoom in. The first one on freedom of choice is very much about how we interact with the technology. And the idea is really that the technology is there to help us. It is not there to control us or to fool us so to say because these days you know with the AI artificial intelligence is becoming so powerful that sometimes you don't even know if you are talking to a robot or to real person. That's something we should know. Same thing, you know, if AI is used in the work environment, you know, we want to make sure that it's not impacting on recruitment decisions without this to be transparent. So we want there to make sure that the digital environment is fair, but also that this is protecting users rights and consumers in a way that is transparent and where really we know what the technology is doing. We want therefore the digital transformation to be a positive story in the EU, not this dystopian future that we may see on TVs in some series and shows. In terms of participation, this is about the democracy online to a large extent, you know, we know that more and more the digital area has an impact on our democracy and our debate, and on the way people get news and information. So we want to make sure that there is really clarity on the public debate, and that again, democratic participation is enhanced and not that we have this information somehow, you know, missed representing reality and creating more problems than helping democracy. This is something that we emphasize also in terms of media ownership, for instance, and we want to make sure that online platforms have also some responsibilities in that context. And this is really something very much we have underlined in recent proposals from the European Media Freedom Act to also our legislation on online platforms. Next slide on the last two chapters. So first safety and security. So this was really something that we wanted to emphasize very much, because it was the feedback we got from citizens they are worried sometimes. And we wanted to make sure that it's not only about personal data is also about safe and secure digital technologies, products and services that we want to have in the EU with especially the idea that children and young people who are more vulnerable should benefit from specific protection online. So that's a commitment that we are making in the EU, and we want to make sure that people feel that, you know, they can count not only on our legislative framework, but also on new solutions for safety and security. And you will see that next week actually the Commission is going to do another proposal to enhance our cybersecurity in the 27 member states. The last chapter on sustainability is something that we wanted really to also include in our declaration, just to make sure that the negative possible impact of also this digital transformation are properly accounted for, and that we can also make sure that it's a positive story at the end of the day. We know that digital technologies can really improve the situation they can limit the use of natural resources, the use of electricity in buildings and across the board. They are essential elements for renewable technologies to be implemented. But we also want to make sure that they do not impact negatively on the environment. So just to conclude with the final slide, I wanted to emphasize that this declaration on digital rights and principles is something that is not as such new in terms of creating new rights. These rights exist already. They are the same offline and online. But they will have really an important result, we believe, because they can be a reference point over the years in forming how we develop new policies in the EU, but also making it clear to our citizens, to our businesses, what we stand for. And we will monitor actually the results. We will have every year this report, the State of the Digital Decade report where we look at the targets for 2030 that was referring to a bit earlier, but there will be also their attention to these principles. And we will be vigilant if we see that in fact they are not delivered, because this will be a trigger for us to do more and to do better. We will also follow the reactions of our citizens. So every year we want to have a special Euro barometer asking citizens about their views on their rights online. And we want to make sure that we have also European projects and partnerships that look at these digital rights in effect. And that can monitor if our legislation that is underpinning at the end of the day the implementation of these principles in the real life, if they are delivering what we wanted. So it is much more than a declaration basically that's my message is something which has teeth, because it is inbuilt with legislation, and the EU will follow the implementation properly. Another one that I wanted to mention is that it is not only about the EU, it's also about promoting this vision is human centric vision of the digital transformation across the globe. And we see that it is already taking ground, you know, we have had this declaration on the future of the internet that is largely based on our declaration. And we also see that there is a potential now with the work of the United Nations from the global digital compact to also embrace these principles. And there just to emphasize that indeed we have strong hopes that this declaration will be known by people, including by children as I was saying with our child friendly version, and that we will be able also to make it a reference point for all of us. Thank you very much.