Towards a UK–EU Partnership for a New Age: report launch

Europe faces a new world. Geopolitical turbulence, contested supply chains, and renewed pressure on European security have reinforced the importance of close UK–EU cooperation on technology and innovation. As both sides navigate a rapidly evolving global landscape, continued dialogue between policymakers and industry will be essential to address shared challenges and identify practical opportunities for collaboration.

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Join us in Brussels for the launch of techUK's new report, Towards a UK–EU Partnership for a New Age, bringing together representatives from the EU institutions, EU Member State Permanent Representations, the UK Government, and industry to discuss the report's findings and explore priorities for UK–EU cooperation ahead of the upcoming UK–EU Summit.

Why attend?

• Be among the first to hear the key findings and recommendations from techUK's latest UK–EU report.

• Hear perspectives from UK and EU policymakers ahead of the UK–EU Summit.

• Gain an industry perspective on the evolving UK–EU technology policy landscape.

• Join a discussion on topics including regulatory interoperability, digital standards, cybersecurity, and defence cooperation.

• Connect with representatives from the EU institutions, Member State Permanent Representations, the European Parliament, the UK Government, and leading technology companies.

Agenda in brief:

• 9:00am - Arrival and welcome coffee

  • Registration and coffee at the UK Ambassador's Residence, with time to meet other attendees before the programme begins.

• 9.30am - Welcome and opening remarks from Julian David OBE

  • An opening scene-setter on why the UK-EU technology and trade relationship matters now, ahead of the upcoming UK-EU Summit.

• 9.40am - Welcome remarks from Caroline Read

  • Senior figures from the EU institutions and UK Government set out the state of the relationship and the priorities for the year ahead

• 9.50am - Report launch: Towards a UK–EU Partnership for a New Age with Sabina Ciofu

  • A presentation of the report's central findings on the scale of UK-EU digital and security interdependence, worth over $350 billion in bilateral digitally deliverable services trade, and the costs that divergence is already imposing on business.

• 10.10am - Fireside chat with Despina Spanou in conversation with Antony Walker

• 10.40am - Panel one: Tech and digital policy - from friction to interoperability

  • Industry and policymakers discuss regulatory interoperability and where practical convergence between the two frameworks is realistic rather than aspirational.

• 11.40am - Break

• 12.05am - Panel two: Trade and the wider economic and security partnership

  • The discussion turns to market access, supply chain resilience, cybersecurity and defence industrial cooperation. 

• 1.05pm - Closing keynote

  • A final reflection on what a more ambitious partnership between the UK and the EU could deliver for European competitiveness, sovereignty and security.

• 1.25pm - Closing remarks

  • A summary of the themes of the day and the practical asks for policymakers on both sides of the Channel.

• 1.40pm - Lunch reception

  • An informal lunch to continue the conversation with speakers, EU officials and industry representatives.

Speakers:

• Despina Spanou, Deputy Director-General, Directorate for Cybersecurity and Trust at DG CONNECT

• Caroline Read, Deputy Ambassador, UK Mission to the European Union

• Julian David OBE, CEO, techUK

• Sofía Trénor Michelena, VP of EU Affairs, Nscale

• Mikael Isaksson, Director of EU Affairs, Saab

• Pascal Kerneis, Managing Director, European Services Forum, ESF

• Darren Ennis, Group Director of EU Affairs, Vodafone

• Rowan Emslie, Chief Communications Officer, Center for Future Generations (CFG)

• Benjamin Ledwon, Head of Government Affairs for EU and Germany, Amadeus

• Robert Trotter, Counsellor, Economic Affairs, UK Mission to the EU

• Joshua Privett, Head of Digital and Emerging Technologies, UK Mission to the EU 

• Antony Walker, Deputy CEO, techUK

• Sabina Ciofu, International Policy and Strategy Lead, techUK

• Theo Maiziere, Policy Manager - EU, techUK