Remarks by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on the International Digital Strategy

Good afternoon, everyone

Today I am here to present the European Commission and the High Representative Joint Vision for the EU's External Action for Digital – our new International Digital Strategy.

The EU has a long-standing history of cooperation on digital priorities with countries worldwide.

This includes our engagement through Trade and Technology Councils, various Digital Partnerships and Dialogues, and Digital Trade Agreements. We are also advancing collaboration under the Global Gateway initiative and through new Security and Defence Partnerships with allies.

We are living through a profound digital revolution that is reshaping economies and societies worldwide. This is happening in a geopolitical landscape that is more challenging than ever before.

In this environment, the EU is stepping forward as a stable and reliable partner, deeply committed to digital cooperation with our allies and partners.

The European Council requested one year ago that the Commission and the High representative to table a Joint communication to strengthen the EU's leadership in global digital affairs. This International Digital Strategy is a response to this request.

This strategy isn't just about boosting our own competitiveness in key technologies like AI, quantum, cyber security or seminconductors at home, though that remains also a priority.

It's also about actively supporting the digital transition of our partners globally. Crucially, it reaffirms the EU's unwavering commitment to building a rules-based global digital order, rooted firmly in our fundamental values.

Indeed, no country or region can lead the technological revolution alone.

And AI and other critical technologies are too fundamental for the future of humanity to be reduced to a quest for supremacy among advanced technological powers.

And of course there is a security aspect. The EU also faces the risk of weaponisation of its technological and economic dependencies and the risk of critical technology leakage. As we outlined in the ProtectEU Strategy, the lines between offline and online threats are increasingly blurred and the EU needs to cooperate better with its partners to combat the misuse of technologies. 

The International Digital Strategy proposes working together at EU level around three lines of action.

First: We will expand international partnerships: We will deepen existing Digital Partnerships and Dialogues, such as Japan, Canada, Singapore, India or South Korea, and with our neighbours.

We will also establish new ones, and foster collaboration through a new Digital Partnership Network. This will strengthen both the EU's tech competitiveness and security, as well as that of our partners.

The aim is to boost EU and partners' respective tech competitiveness and sovereignty, and promote joint interests, trade and investment, research or regulatory cooperation, and attract talents in the fields of digital, AI and tech.

Our cooperation with partner countries will focus on critical areas that are essential for a robust, secure, and human-centric digital future.

This is vital for critical sectors like energy, transport, finance, and health.

We will collaborate on advancements in areas such as AI, 5G/6G, semiconductors, and quantum technologies.

Our aim is to foster social cohesion, protect human rights, and uphold democratic principles in the digital sphere.

Strengthening the cyber defence of our partner countries is a direct investment in the EU's own security.

We seek mutual recognition arrangements with key partners to simplify cross-border business and facilitate citizens' mobility.

We will continue promoting the protection of children online, freedom of speech, democracy, and citizens' privacy.

We will deploy an ‘EU tech business offer' to partner countries, notably in Africa, Latin America or Asia.

We will do so by combining EU private and public sector investments, notably though Global Gateway, to support the digital transition of partner countries, incorporating components such as AI Factories, investments in secure and trusted connectivity, Digital Public Infrastructure, or cybersecurity.

We will at the same time promote EU tech solutions, regulatory approach, standards, and values.

Third, we will continue promoting a rules-based global digital order in line with our fundamental values.

Supporting tech competitiveness, economic security, security and defence, as well as values and interests of the EU and our partners are cross-cutting priorities in all these actions.

Thank you.