Europe’s regulatory landscape is rapidly reshaping both democratic resilience and the competitiveness of the continent’s digital economy. This high-level panel examines how flagship frameworks — from the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act to the EU’s emerging AI rulebook and the forthcoming European Democracy Shield — aim to safeguard civic space, curb platform harms, and create a fairer market for innovation. In parallel, the UK is charting its own course with the Online Safety Act, new competition tools for digital markets, and efforts to define AI safety and liability. 

Chaired by Damian Collins OBE, former UK Minister for Tech and Chair of the House of Commons DCMS Committee, the discussion brings together Thomas Jarzombek MdB (Parliamentary State Secretary for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation), Alexandra Geese MEP (member of the European Democracy Shield committee and former DSA shadow rapporteur), and Sir Jeremy Wright MP (former UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport). 

Together, they will explore how Europe can align democratic safeguards with pro-enterprise innovation, avoid regulatory fragmentation, and build a digital ecosystem that strengthens both rights and growth.