EIF Reception with Commissioner Thierry Breton - highlights

On February 5, the European Internet Forum organised a reception – hosted by Pilar del Castillo MEP and EIF Chair – with Thierry Breton, the new EU Commissioner for Internal Market as guest of honour for an exchange of views on his policy priorities and future initiatives.

#EIFasks - The digital transformation of the financial sector

EIF invited members to exchange views on the regulatory obstacles Banks and FinTechs are facing in the Digital Era as well as how to ensure that competition, data privacy and security will empower the consumer and SMEs while allowing the sector to lead in innovation.

The debate, titled "The digital transformation of financial services", was chaired by MEP Pilar del Castillo and featured the following speakers:

• Delphine Leroy, Policy Officer, Financial Technology and Sustainable Finance Unit, DG FISMA, European Commission
• Joel Rosenbaum, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development, Banco Santander
• Ciaran O'Malley, Head of Commercial Strategy, Trustly

#EIFasks - IGF 2019 preparatory meeting

On November 13, EIF and MEP Marina Kaljurand invited MEPs, Members and friends for an exchange of views regarding the priorities and expectations for this year's Internet Governance Forum.

The debate titled "IGF 2019 preparatory meeting" featured the following speakers:

• Pearse O'Donohue, Director for the Future Networks Directorate, DG CONNECT, European Commission
• Sandra Hoferichter, Secretary General, EuroDIG
• Lina Galvez Muñoz MEP, Head of the European Parliament Delegation to the Internet Governance Forum 2019
• Florian Pennings, EU Cybersecurity Policy Manager, Microsoft

#EIFasks - Digital transformation and taxation

What are the key challenges and opportunities that digital transformation brings to EU taxation?

On November 12, Ivan Stefanec MEP invited EIF members for a discussion on this timely topic. The debate featured the following speakers:

• Maria Teresa Fabregas, Director of Indirect taxation and tax administration Unit, DG TAXUD, European Commission
• Magdalena Piech, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Allegro, Chair of the European Tech Alliance
• Rob Burlison, Director of Global Corporate Affairs, Intuit
• Dr. Horst Heitz, Deputy Secretary General, Taxpayers Association of Europe

#EIFasks - Very high capacity connectivity

EIF and Pilar del Castillo MEP invited MEPs, members and friends to share views on the key issues Europe is facing in realising its very high capacity connectivity.

The debate, hosted by Pilar del Castillo MEP and EIF Chair, took place on the 8th of October and featured the following speakers:

• Anthony Whelan, Director for Electronic Communications Networks and Services, DG CONNECT, European Commission
• Kyle Whitehill, CEO of Avanti Communications; Vice-Chair of ESOA
• Lise Fuhr, Director General, ETNO
• Darko Ratkaj, Senior Project Manager, EBU
• Christof Sommerberg, Head of Regulation and Public Affairs, BREKO’s member company Deutsche Glasfaser

#EIFasks - Digitization and the defense of democracy

EIF invited members to exchange views on how the EU can safeguard democracy in the Digital Age.
The debate, titled "Digitization and the defense of democracy", was chaired by MEP Roza Grafin von Thun und Hohenstein and featured the following speakers:

• Trevor Davis, Founder and CEO of CounterAction and Research Professor at George Washington Unviersity
• Mikko Salo, Founder of FactBar, Media Innovator and EU Advisor to LUT University
• Marisa Jimenez Martin, Director of Public Policy and Deputy Head of EU Affairs, Facebook
• Paolo Cesarini, Head of Unit, Media Convergence and Social Media, DG CONNECT, European Commission