DLD
05/09/2017

“European politics don’t work via Twitter!”

A full house in Brussels: On the morning of 4 September, DLD founder Steffi Czerny and Bavarian State Minister Beate Merk welcomed around 300 participants to the second DLD Europe conference at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU. “As a European conference, we are concerned by the increasing criticism of the EU,” Czerny began. “We firmly believe in the European idea and want DLD Europe to be an open platform for greater optimism and interdisciplinary discussions.”

Washington discusses, Brussels acts

Burda CEO Paul-Bernhard Kallen emphasised Brussels’ importance as a hub, quoting John Frank (head of Microsoft in Brussels) in his keynote speech: “Brussels is the center of regulation for the IT Industry. Washington D.C. talks about it but Washington D.C. doesn’t really do much. Brussels acts.” According to Kallen, this quote pinpoints the reason why Burda has held an innovation conference in Belgium since 2016.

Less football, more internet

How does Europe’s internet economy compare to the rest of the world? According to Clark Parsons, managing director of the Internet Economy Foundation, which was set up in 2016 as a cross-party foundation for dialogue with politics, the economy and society, Europe is lagging behind its international counterparts and focuses too heavily on the automotive industry, the financial sector and even on football. In Parsons’ opinion, it is high time that Europe caught up with the global market and built on the success of the Swedish music streaming service Spotify, which this year is set to become the first European company in the top 20 most successful internet companies worldwide.

No exit from Brexit

One highly anticipated speaker was Martin Selmayr, head of cabinet to Jean-Claude Juncker (President of the European Commission) and the most powerful civil servant in Brussels. Selmayr, who often polarises opinion and is viewed in government circles as an “enfant terrible”, began his talk with Jan Wolf Schäfer (Head of Politics and Business at Focus) by taking a swipe at the USA: “Unlike in other countries, European politics certainly don’t work via Twitter.” He explained that while the Trump era is a challenge for the EU, there are positive effects too – important partners are increasingly turning their backs on America and bringing new capital to Europe. With regard to the Brexit negotiations, Selmayr made his position very clear: “Brexit was a stupid decision, but it cannot be reversed. There will be no exit from Brexit.”

The discussion between Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, and Ludwig Siegele (Economist) also focused on Brexit. Oettinger expressed his astonishment that so many British media outlets and authorities still refuse to accept that Brexit is inevitable. “The Brexit decision was democratic, so a clear agenda is required on what will happen to the 3.2 million Europeans currently living in Britain, for example, and to the around one million Brits living outside the UK.”

“Google has more money than God”

Gary Reback, a US attorney and expert in antitrust law, provided another highlight of the second DLD Europe in Brussels. In a conversation with Andrew Keen, a critic of the internet, he vented his annoyance at Google’s misuse of power: “Google has so many financial resources that it sponsors countless government campaigns in the USA and increasingly in Europe too.” According to Reback, more and more EU representatives are on Google’s payroll, making a level playing field more important than ever to facilitate a fair competition in which he believes Europe will play a major role.

PDF
DLD Europe 2017

The Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU was the venue of DLD Europe once again

Taavet Hinrikus from Transferwise convinced on stage of DLD. His service provides transferring money to foreign countries at the least cost

Steffi Czerny was pleased about the more than 300 participants and exciting discussions

Günther Oettinger, EU Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources

Clark Parsons from the Internet Economy Foundation urged: Regarding the Internet Economy, Europe has to narrow the gap to the US

Paul-Bernhard Kallen emphasised in his keynote the relevance of hosting DLD in Brussels

The American lawyer Gary Reback made the participants aware of Google abusing its market power

Board member Stefan Winners took a seat in the front row next to Sophie Ahrens (left) and Internet critic Andrew Keen

The light-flooded room, the place where the panels took place, ensured a pleasant atmosphere

Jan Wolf Schäfer, Head of Politics and Business at Focus, was interviewing one of the most popular speakers at DLD Europe: Martin Selmayr

Paul-Bernhard Kallen, Beate Merk and Steffi Czerny (f.l.t.r.) at the opening of the second DLD Europe conference in Brussels

Related articles
DLD Nightcap
Exclusive Networking Event in Davos
DLD Nightcap
Exclusive Networking Event in Davos

DLD invites influential and prominent personalities to Davos for the crowning finale of DLD Munich 25.

DLD Munich 25
The world deserves optimism
DLD Munich 25
The world deserves optimism

20 years of DLD – and the future remains exciting! At DLD Munich 25, brilliant minds from technology, business, art and politics met to discuss radical innovations that benefit people and the planet under the motto "Fut…

20 years of DLD
A positive look into the future
20 years of DLD
A positive look into the future

DLD Munich 25 takes place at a time of great change. From 16 to 18 January 2025, Burda's international innovation platform DLD (Digital, Life, Design) is calling for a positive outlook on the future under the motto ‘Fut…

<