Connect Europe Policy Summit 2026

Europe’s digital decade has entered a decisive implementation phase. With the Digital Networks Act moving into delivery, the reform of the EU Merger Guidelines reshaping competition policy, the Cybersecurity Act strengthening resilience obligations, and the emerging Cloud and AI frameworks redefining technological sovereignty, the regulatory architecture of Europe’s digital economy is being fundamentally recalibrated. The debate is no longer about designing rules, it is about whether those rules enable Europe to build, invest and compete at global scale.

At a time of geopolitical fragmentation, capital market asymmetries and accelerating AI-driven transformation, connectivity sits at the core of Europe’s industrial future. From telecom infrastructure and cloud capacity to AI infrastructures and cybersecurity resilience, Europe’s strategic autonomy depends on the strength of its digital backbone. The 2026 Connect Europe Policy Summit brings together policymakers, industry leaders and cross-sector voices to confront a central question: can Europe align connectivity, capital and competition policy to secure its technological leadership?

Agenda

09:30 
Welcome Coffee

10:00-10:05 
Introduction

• Alessandro Gropelli, Director General, Connect Europe
   

10:05-10:20
Opening Keynote

• Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General, DG Connect
   

10:20 – 11:15
Panel 1 (In partnership with GSMA) | Delivering the Digital Networks Act: Investment, Deployment and Regulatory Certainty
As the Digital Networks Act enters the co-legislative process, this panel will assess whether the new framework can unlock faster network deployment, improve regulatory coherence and restore long-term investor confidence across Europe.

• Michał Kobosko, ITRE MEP, Rapporteur of the Digital Networks Act (Renew Europe Group)
• Adina-Ioana Vălean, IMCO MEP, Shadow Rapporteur of the Digital Networks Act (EPP Group)
• Lucrezia Busa, Head of Unit, Markets, Competition and Roaming, DG Connect
• Wolfgang Kopf, SVP for Group Public and Regulatory Affairs at Deutsche Telekom
• Moderator: Elsa Sependa, Head of Public Policy for Europe, GSMA
   

11:15
Coffee break 
 

11:30 – 12:30
Panel 2 (in partnership with BRG) |  Reforming EU Merger Control: Competitiveness, Strategic Scale and Consumer Welfare
As the Commission advances the reform of the EU Horizontal Merger Guidelines, this panel examines how competition policy can incorporate dynamic efficiencies, innovation incentives and global competitiveness considerations while safeguarding consumer welfare.

• Marc Zedler, Deputy Head of the Merger Unit, DG Comp
• Tamás Tábori, Chairman and CEO, 4iG Telecommunications Holding
• Gabriel Lluch, General Counsel for Competition and Regulation, Orange
• Annamaria Mangiaracina, Partner, Linklaters
• Moderator: Laurent Eymard, Managing Director, BRG
   

12:30
Networking Lunch


13:45 – 14:25
Fireside Chat (In partnership with ECSO) | Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure: Securing Europe’s Digital Backbone
This discussion will explore how the Cybersecurity Act is shaping the security requirements for Europe’s connectivity infrastructure and how telecom operators are strengthening their cybersecurity capabilities to protect critical digital networks.

• Markéta Gregorová, INTA MEP
• Vincent Garnier, Director General, FTTH Council
• Idoya Arteagabeitia, Chief Regulation, Public Policy and Competition Officer at Telefónica S.A.
• Moderator: Cristian Tracci, Strategy Officer, ECSO
   

14:25 – 15:15
Panel 3 (in partnership with European DIGITAL SME Alliance) | Towards European Tech Sovereignty: AI Infrastructures, Cloud Capacity and Connectivity
As Europe advances initiatives on AI infrastructures, cloud capacity and technological sovereignty, this panel examines how connectivity underpins Europe’s ability to build an integrated European Tech Stack capable of competing globally.

• Matthias Ecke, ITRE MEP
• Anne Duboscq, Public Affairs & Communications Director, OVHcloud
• Mathias Nöbauer, CEO Exoscale
• Moderator: Sebastiano Toffaletti, Secretary General, European DIGITAL SME Alliance
   

15:15-15:45
Closing Conversation | Scaling Europe for Global Challenges: Industrial Policy, Competition and Beyond

• Cristina Caffarra, Economist and Chair, EuroStack Foundation
• Román Arjona, Chief Economist, DG GROW, European Commission