This event is organised with the support of the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the EU.

While the Digital Compass sets important targets, there is a pressing question to answer as to how policy & regulation can best support reaching these targets and foster a balance between private investment and public funding.

The Commission said that there is a gap of €125 billion per year to meet the investment needs of the digital and green transition. Connectivity infrastructure alone amounts to €42 billion of this gap.

Questions to the panelists will include:

• How can Europe close the investment gap in connectivity? And how can Europe attract the necessary private investment and create synergies with public funding?
• Are the Digital Compass 2030 targets ambitious enough for Europe to become a digital leader? Which targets are most difficult to reach?
• What do stakeholders see as priority targets of the Digital Compass, to reflect actual obstacles to an inclusive and competitive Digital Decade?

The discussion will be moderated by Samuel Stolton, Freelance EU Correspondent. The following speakers have been confirmed: 

• Hugo Santos Mendes, Deputy Minister for Communications, Portugal
• Rita Wezenbeek, Director Connectivity, DG CONNECT, EC
• Manuel Kohnstamm, Senior VP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Liberty Global and Co-Chairman of GIGAEurope
• Erzsebet Fitori, Group Head of EU Affairs and Relations at Vodafone Group