European CEOs Call for Urgent Tech Investment and Simplification
Seventy-five European CEOs have issued a joint call for urgent investment in EU technology, streamlined public procurement, and significant regulatory simplification. The group, organized by DIGITALEUROPE, warned that the continent is in a “decisive phase” for digital competitiveness and the modernization of public services.
- The call to action is a direct response to a report by former ECB President Mario Draghi, which identified an €800 billion investment gap and a 30% loss in competitiveness in Europe, largely due to regulatory burdens and a fragmented digital market. - Signatories to the declaration include chief executives from major technology and industrial companies such as Nokia, SAP, Philips, Bosch, and Siemens Energy, representing a broad coalition of European industry. - A key demand is the creation of a true digital single market, moving beyond aspiration to a unified system with a "one-stop shop" for companies to get clear answers on digital regulations. - The European Commission has initiated several funding programs to bolster digital and AI development, including the €8.1 billion Digital Europe Programme and a recent €307.3 million investment through the Horizon Europe Work Programme. - Public procurement of technology is a major focus, with proposals for more coordinated, EU-level procurement to create scale for European solutions in critical areas like AI, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure. - This industry push aligns with the EU's existing legal frameworks for digital public services, such as the Web Accessibility Directive (Directive 2016/2102), which mandates that public sector websites and apps are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for people with disabilities. - Several GovTech initiatives are already underway across the EU, with a recent €3.3 million project called inGOV helping governments in Austria, Croatia, Greece, and Malta pilot more citizen-centric digital services. - The declaration emphasizes the need to invest in "dual-use" technologies that serve both commercial and defense purposes, reflecting a growing focus on strengthening Europe's strategic and military resilience.
