EVP Virkkunen Keynote speech at the 17th European Space Conference

European Commission -Speech [Check Against Delivery] EVP Virkkunen Keynote speech at the 17th European Space Conference Brussels, 28 January 2025 Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure to attend for the first time your annual conference, as Executive Vice President in charge of Tech sovereignty, security and democracy. The broad range of issues that you are covering and the variety of stakeholders that you are bringing together testify the major role played by space for EU competitiveness. Today, I would like to share my vision on how to ensure tech sovereignty in Europe and why this is extremely relevant for space. Tech sovereignty means two things: first, having a competitive digital economy; second having in place adequate digital rules that guarantee a safe space for EU citizens. With the most advanced digital rules in the world, the EU is ahead on the regulatory front. Our rules aim to ensure security and safety for citizens, fair competition for our businesses, and protect democracy and privacy, as well as children from harmful content and abuse. They apply without discrimination to all companies operating in the EU – whether they are European, American, or Chinese. Let me be clear about it: I am determined to enforce these rules robustly and fairly. I am equally determined to make the EU a global tech and digital leader. In the uncertain world in which we live, Europe must have unrestricted access to critical technologies such as...