Digital sovereignty in Europe, AI in Africa and how to engage in fragile settings
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It is difficult to predict what Donald Trump’s next moves will be vis-à-vis the EU and its member states. His modus operandi is a whirlwind of commitments, threats and announcements, all aimed at creating noise and an unsettling state of suspense. However, when EU leaders met on Monday, they showed at least some degree of unity and pragmatism, coupled with an openness to be flexible when it comes to European defence – including defence spending. One can sense a determination to not get too carried away by what is happening across the Atlantic and, at least on some topics, continue to chart Europe’s own course while seeking potential new partners.
One of these topics seems to be AI and tech regulation. Despite warnings from Trump’s entourage in support of US big tech companies and complaints of unfair treatment, the EU has moved ahead with its own AI act, the first rules of which came into force last Sunday. This comes alongside initiatives to close the innovation gap with the US and China, and to boost economic growth – presented last week in the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass.
Our latest paper looks at digital public infrastructures, which are digital systems that provide people easy and safe access to essential services, such as payments or identification. Existing EU-wide initiatives – such as the EU digital wallet –?are a crucial piece of the puzzle to increase innovation on the continent. The authors argue that the EU should look at the examples of countries like India and Brazil and join forces to widen the debate about sovereign digital infrastructure. The upcoming EU-India trade talks could be a good opportunity to engage.
More on digital technology also from ECDPM’s Melody Musoni who spoke about AI – and IT –?governance in Africa in the latest episode of the ‘Digital for Good’ podcast. ?
We continue to share video interviews on the main highlights of our 2024 work. This week, you’ll hear from our colleague Sophie Desmidt, who leads the peace, security and resilience team. She worked on a project that looked at fragile settings – focusing on the central Sahel region –?and explored ways in which the EU and its member states can remain engaged.
Finally, next week there will be another meeting in preparation for the finance for development conference later this year. We have co-authored a blog on how the EU could use the summer conference to strengthen its alliances.
All the best,
Virginia Mucchi Head of outreach and impact at ECDPM
Editor’s pick
Chloe Teevan, Raphael Pouyé and Gautam Kamath argue that the EU should expand global discussions around digital infrastructures, presenting a more complete and democratic framework for sovereign digital infrastructure. This would permit the EU to engage with key emerging powers like India and Brazil, offer a holistic vision to govern the technology stack and help shape a wider global conversation about tech sovereignty.
Highlights
Melody Musoni shares insights about the unique challenges and opportunities facing African nations in the age of AI in an episode of the ‘Digital for Good’ podcast. She discusses the risks of over-reliance on non-African AI systems, the obstacles to African participation in AI development and the geopolitical dynamics and opportunities in a global multi-actor scenario.
As part of our video series on highlights from 2024, Sophie Desmidt discusses the research ECDPM has undertaken in response to escalating global conflicts and rising humanitarian needs. Our work explores how the EU and development institutions can respond to significant challenges in fragile settings like the central Sahel.
In this blog for the European Think Tanks Group, Karim Karaki and IDOS’ Niels Keijzer analyse the EU’s role in shaping global finance, as Sevilla prepares to host the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). They argue that without bold leadership and a clear strategy, the EU risks missing a crucial opportunity to drive meaningful reforms and reinforce its geopolitical influence.
Events
10-11 FEBRUARY
France will host the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris.
10-11 FEBRUARY
EU development ministers will have an informal meeting in Brussels.
11 FEBRUARY
The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt is organising a panel discussion on the future of African non-military interventions. ECDPM’s Lidet Tadesse Shiferaw is presenting.
11-13 FEBRUARY
The World Governments Summit takes place in Dubai.
Other news
AI AND TECHNOLOGY
The apparent emergence of a cheaper AI model is raising hopes that Africa may be able to use the technology to solve social and economic issues (Harry Clynch, African Business)
领英推荐
The US and China are racing to dominate artificial intelligence, while Europe remains a cautious spectator (ángel Melguizo for ECFR)
EU POLITICS
What is the impact of political and economic divisions on Germany’s China policy? (Jeremy Cliffe and Jana Puglierin with Janka Oertel, ECFR podcast)
The EU’s Competitiveness Compass needs funding and ambitious legislation to work (Mats Engstr?m, ECFR)
How effective is the EU’s economic strategy in addressing structural issues, and should policies adapt under Trump? (Heather Grabbe and Jeromin Zettelmeyer, Bruegel)
THE US AND THE WORLD
The international development community can draw two lessons from Trump’s attack on aid (Duncan Green for Oxfam’s ‘From poverty to power’ blog)
Elon Musk claims USAID is ‘beyond repair’ and vows to work towards shutting it down, sparking controversy (Reuters for The Guardian)
The US aid freeze raises critical questions about who will bear the brunt of funding cuts and geopolitical shifts (Lydia Namubiru for The Continent)
What sorts of aid do African states receive from the US, and are they prepared for the coming permanent cuts? (Ken Opalo, An Africanist Perspective)
In response to a new wave of American insularity, European policymakers should pursue rapprochement with Africa (Ronak Gopaldas, ISS)
GEOPOLITICS AND MULTILATERALISM
As Africa seeks fairer global partnerships, the UAE is stepping in, but its role is not yet clear (Artur Frantz for IPS journal)
Europe’s Syria stance reflects a calculated effort to balance moral imperatives with geopolitical realities (Loqman Radpey, CEPS)
The BRICS+ and G20 forums navigate a complex balance between competition and collaboration in shaping the Global South’s future (Kester Kenn Klomegah, Modern Diplomacy)
South Africa’s G20 presidency is a chance for the West to engage with Global South priorities (Christopher Vandome, Chatham House)
'Innovation policy' should be at the heart of South Africa's G20 policy agenda (Johan Fourie for Our Long Walk)
With France’s military influence in Africa gone, can it rely on soft power? (Shola Lawal, Al Jazeera)
SECURITY
West African perspectives on EU interventions highlight the urgent need for an integrated security and development approach in the Sahel (Darlington Tshuma et al. for ETTG)
Rwanda and the DRC are set to participate in an emergency summit addressing regional tensions (France 24)
The resurgence of the M23 rebel group in Goma raises concerns about repeating past conflicts in the region (Filip Reyntjens for ISPI)
Despite local unpopularity, UN peacekeepers remain crucial in maintaining stability in eastern Congo (Antonio Cascais, Deutsche Welle)
While private sector support to the AU Peace Fund is growing, 21 African nations must still contribute (Moussa Soumahoro, ISS)
GOVERNANCE
What challenges will the next AU chair face in strengthening Africa’s role in conflict resolution and its global influence? (Nazanine Moshiri with Liesl Louw-Vaudran, International Crisis Group podcast)
What is truly monumental is not what the AU has failed to do, but what it has managed to achieve despite these failings (Jo?l Té-Léssia Assoko, African Business)
Mozambique remains in crisis after disputed elections exposed long-standing economic and political struggles (Egídio Chaimite for IPS journal)
14 African countries are meant to go to the polls in 2025 (ISS)
CLIMATE AND ENERGY
How to make carbon pricing work for Africa (Rim Berahab and Otaviano Canuto for Project Syndicate)
See also our paper on African voluntary carbon markets.
With rising trade barriers, special arrangements are needed to boost green trade through regional agreements, speeding low-carbon tech adoption (Ma Jun for Project Syndicate)
ECONOMY AND FINANCE
The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act should help create a fairer model of mineral security that emphasises affordability and self-sufficiency (Daniel M. Franks and Rüya Perincek for Project Syndicate)
Can guarantees effectively leverage financing for SMEs in low- and middle-income countries? (Bao-We-Wal Bambe, IDOS)
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