17
The European Quest for Digital Sovereignty
- Time: 17.02.2026, 13:30 to 14:15
- Location: Main Stage
The European Union's digital policy has so far focused largely on regulating applications and services, making Europe highly dependent on US technology giants and ill-equipped for global competition. As this model is proving unsustainable, business leaders are driving a shift towards digital sovereignty – from core infrastructure to end-user applications – to reduce dependence on external factors and secure Europe's digital future.
Speaker
Dr. Cristina Caffarra
Leading antitrust economist with more than 20 years’ experience as Head of European Competition at major economic consultancies, where she led large teams and acted as expert witness in landmark cases worldwide. She later co-founded the Competition Research Policy Network at CEPR, shaping policy debate on antitrust and digital markets. A prominent voice in European competition policy, she advocates linking antitrust, data protection and inclusive growth. She co-founded EuroStack, leads its Industry Initiative, curates a major Brussels conference, and is an Honorary Professor at UCL.