EU Tech Sovereignty: Translating Emerging Requirements Into Practical Strategies

  • Panel
  • Grande Halle
  • Wednesday 20.05 — 08:45 - 10:00

Organising Institution

IAPP

International

The IAPP is the professional home for privacy, AI governance and digital responsibility globally. Founded in 2000, the IAPP is a not-for-profit, policy-neutral association dedicated to defining, supporting and improving the professionals working at the intersections of data, technology and humanity. For details, visit IAPP.org
The political concept of ‘digital sovereignty’ comes in many shades globally. It is often anchored in securing control over data, technology, infrastructure, guided by ambitions of resilience, prosperity, security and privacy, overall reducing dependencies. In Europe, sovereignty already transpires across rules governing the use of personal and non-personal data, addressing supply-chain security, requiring domestic solutions and storage limitations among others. Legislative proposals in data, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are set to further the EU level approach to tech sovereignty at a time of severe geopolitical disruption. These policies have consequential governance implications for providers, customers and consumers alike.

Questions to be answered

  1. Are European sovereignty initiatives the sum of a coherent and coordinated strategy?
  2. How does sovereignty translate into concrete requirements in organizations’ digital governance practice?
  3. How does sovereignty fare against commercial and operational realities?
  4. Will European tech sovereignty deliver on its ambitions?

Moderator

Isabelle Roccia

IAPP - International

As Managing Director, Europe, Roccia leads the IAPP’s growing Brussels office and engages with senior industry leaders, policymakers, regulators and civil society, keeping IAPP members informed and apprised of local developments. She serves as the public voice for the IAPP across Europe and provides strategic guidance on European engagement and market expansion.

Speaker

Thomas Boué

Business Software Alliance (BSA) - International

Thomas Boué leads Business Software Alliance’s public policy work across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He advises BSA members on legal and regulatory developments and represents the ICT sector before European and national policymakers. His work focuses on security, privacy, intellectual property protection, open markets, fair competition, and emerging technologies such as cloud computing. Before joining BSA, Boué was a consultant at Weber Shandwick, advising technology and telecom clients on EU policy and regulatory issues. Earlier, he led EU advocacy efforts for the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, focusing on trade, education, and labor policy. Boué holds an MBA from the Europa-Institut (Saarbrücken), a Certificate of Integrated Legal Studies from the Universities of Warwick, Saarland, and Lille II, and a Bachelor of Arts in Law from the University of Lille II. He is based in Brussels.