Liberals take part in the European Business Summit

Under the overarching theme ‘Rebooting the European economy - Towards a green, digital and more resilient Union’ the virtual European Business Summit took place on 16 and 17 November, bringing together speakers from business, policy, civil society and academia to debate and discuss Europe's important issues including the dual green and digital transformation, new trade opportunities for the EU and the contribution of businesses to make a more resilient economic model.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourová were amongst the liberal faces present at the event.

On the first day of the Summit Prime Minister De Croo participated in an interview in which he shared Belgium’s ‘containment strategy’ in the face of the second wave of the pandemic and gave an update on the status of the economy in the country as well as discussed future relations of the European Union and the United States following the presidential elections in the US.

Speaking about the dual green and digital transition in Europe, he said, “These are really the two pillars of our government. Sustainability and making that turn towards sustainable economy. Not because we, Belgians, believe we can save the world but because we believe that Belgian economy, Belgian technology and European technology can save the world.”

Watch the full interview with Prime Minister De Croo here

Commission Vice-President Jourová took part in a high-level panel on regulation of digital platforms in which she underlined the importance of the online business economy and reminded the audience about the upcoming landmark proposals designed to strengthen the rules and secure a competitive and fair sector, which the European Commission is due to launch by the end of the year.

While advocating for the creation of what she called “Europe’s digital soul”, Jourová stressed that “the democratic world should take action to enhance the advantage of being connected through platforms while also maintaining the human rights of the users via accountability measures - create a system that will increase the safety and be user-friendly”.

Watch the full panel featuring Commission Vice-President Jourová here

🇧🇪🇪🇺A pleasure to open the @ebsummiteurope.

This year's focus is the reboot of Europe's economy, towards a green, digital & more resilient Union.

But of course, the conversation started with how we are supporting citizens and businesses hard-hit by #COVID19.#EBS2020 pic.twitter.com/xm1oDMCqN6
— Alexander De Croo (@alexanderdecroo) November 17, 2020

EU is well placed to go forward and introduce protection of European fundamental values into digital sphere.
People must not lose their identity and chance to protect it.
By adopting #DSA and #EDAP we want to present something that we can do for European digital soul.#EBS2020 pic.twitter.com/u5P0vmiljR
— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) November 17, 2020