Welcome to the ITI Insights: Europe Focus September Newsletter
Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)
ITI is the premier global advocate for technology, representing the world's most innovative companies.
Dear readers,
From the release of the long-awaited Draghi report on European competitiveness, to the designation of the next College of Commissioners, things are picking up pace as we get closer to the new mandate.
ITI has been hard at work to represent the global tech industry in Brussels. In response to the EU AI Office’s consultation on the Code of Practice for General-Purpose AI models,?ITI submitted its recommendations?calling for clarity, flexibility, and global alignment to implement the AI Act while also supporting AI innovation.
Going beyond the EU, ITI published our?Global Tech Policy Recommendations for the United Kingdom. We believe these principles will help the new UK government chart a new course grounded in a global pro-innovation approach to technology. And in conjunction with Climate Week NYC, we released our?Sustainable Technology Policy Guide: Understanding AI’s Role in the Energy Transition, outlining how global policymakers?should?work with industry to?build?a reliable, resilient, and modern?energy?infrastructure that?supports sustainable innovation and ensures?sufficient energy access for everyone.?
Meanwhile, our engagement with global audiences to advocate for?ITI's Vision 2030 continues.
Happy reading,
ITI Spotlight:?Tech Reaction to the Draghi Report on European Competitiveness
Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has presented his much-anticipated report on Europe’s competitiveness, and we’re pleased to see many of his recommendations align with ITI’s?Vision 2030. Both documents highlight the importance of technological innovation for the future competitiveness and resiliency of the European economy.
Draghi’s report makes a compelling case for cutting regulatory red tape, particularly in AI, offering concrete steps to reduce complexity and revitalize European innovation. The report accurately highlights the importance of openness to like-minded global partners, particularly in the cloud and data markets, acknowledging the importance of leveraging transatlantic relationships to strengthen Europe’s supply chains and digital infrastructures.
However, concerns remain over the report's suggestions regarding telecommunications. Stakeholders expressed overwhelming opposition in the public consultation on the white paper regarding intervention in the IP interconnection market – which has proven to function well. Draghi’s report still proposes mechanisms for resolving disputes over data traffic termination and infrastructure cost-sharing, effectively introducing disguised network usage fees—an issue we’ll continue to monitor closely.
As the new mandate takes shape, ITI remains committed to ensuring?competitiveness?and?resilience?stay top of mind for all policymakers.
Read more of ITI’s reaction in?Euractiv.
ITI Contributes to the Commission’s General-Purpose AI Code of Practice
ITI?submitted comments?to the EU AI Office’s consultation on the AI Act Code of Practice for general purpose AI models (GPAI).?Our comments?focus on four priorities to help guide the drafting of the Code:
New ITI Recommendations to Strengthen UK Innovation Leadership
ITI members are central players in the UK’s technology ecosystem – a country whose newly elected government now has an incredible opportunity to grow the economy through a revitalized focus on AI, digitalization, and frontier technologies. As the UK’s newly elected government sets its sights on realizing this potential, ITI released?Global Tech Policy Recommendations for the United Kingdom,?outlining five the guiding principles to frame the UK’s technological vision for the future:
ITI’s New Policy Guide for Navigating AI’s Role in the Energy Transition
ITI released?its?Sustainable Technology Policy Guide: Understanding AI’s Role in the Energy Transition, which outlines?how global policymakers?should?work with industry to?build?a reliable, resilient, and modern?energy?infrastructure that?supports sustainable innovation and ensures?sufficient energy access for everyone.?
ITI’s?recommendations?offer a?first-of-its-kind?holistic?guide for stakeholders to?build an innovative and green energy economy and?inform?the conversation around the sustainable growth of next-generation technology, including data centers and how AI is already advancing the green energy transition.?ITI recommends?that?policymakers:??
Highlights from Brussels and Beyond
?? Equinix EMEA Data Center Visit:
ITI’s Brussels team?toured?Equinix’s data centers in Amsterdam, reinforcing the importance of physical infrastructure in sustaining the digital connectivity we depend on.
?? Webinar Recap:
On 18 September, ITI’s Senior Manager Marco Leto Barone and Vice President Courtney Lang participated in a panel with IAPP to discuss “Implementing AI Governance in a Global Compliance Network.” They shared insights into AI regulations across the EU, US, and beyond.
ICYMI, watch the event?here.
?? RAID 2024:?ITI was a proud partner of the RAID 2024 event, where leading regulators, innovators, and industry experts convened to discuss how to “Innovate, Regulate, and Implement with Courage and Caution.” ITI’s Guido Lobrano participated in a dynamic discussion with former MEP Dragos Tudorache, Liviu Stirbat from the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and Ashish Sarkar from KPMG’s Global Center for Excellence. The?event?focused on the need to responsibly harness critical technologies and align regulation with industry realities, and drive Europe’s digital transformation forward.
???Budapest AI Event:?ITI represented the tech industry at the Council of the EU’s event, “Fundamental Rights in the Age of AI,” hosted by the Hungarian Presidency. Guido Lobrano joined a panel alongside leaders from ITI members Microsoft and Amazon to discuss mitigating AI risks. He called for clear security guidelines and stronger EU-level coordination to support effective AI regulation and compliance.
On October 2, Guido Lobrano will be back in Budapest to speak at the Hungarian Presidency’s?Conference on the Future of Telecoms.
???SAVE THE DATE: Join ITI on 24 October for a pivotal conference at Microsoft’s Brussels premises (Rue Montoyer 51) on the future of the European Standardization System (ESS). This hybrid event, with over 100 in-person attendees, will bring together tech and telecom professionals,?subject matter experts, policymakers, and?industry decisionmakers?to discuss the strategic importance of ESS in shaping global trade and competitiveness. Key topics include the evolving role of standards, attracting skilled experts, and the ongoing review of Regulation 1025/2012. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with industry leaders on Europe’s standardization future!
ITI in the Press
In the News:?
?Press Releases:?
TechWonk Blogs:
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