Connect Europe General Assembly sets 2027 priorities: Europe's digital ambitions need stronger investment
Berlin, 5 November 2026 – Connect Europe, the association representing Europe’s leading providers of connectivity networks and services, gathered in Berlin for its annual General Assembly, hosted by Deutsche Telekom. Members reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Europe's digital competitiveness, investment and technological sovereignty, setting out key policy priorities for 2027 and confirming the renewal of the association's Executive Board.
2027 priorities: Turning Europe's digital ambitions into investment
With Europe's digital competitiveness agenda entering a decisive phase, Connect Europe members called for all EU institutions to deliver ambitious EU reforms and concrete investment incentives, greater scale and stronger innovation across the connectivity sector.
The Digital Networks Act (DNA) remains the decisive test of whether EU policy can unlock investment in next-generation fibre, 5G and future 6G networks.
Connect Europe supports the positive steps in the European Parliament's draft report on long-term spectrum rights and open internet reform that enables innovative services and fairer rules across the internet ecosystem. However, we oppose removing explicit safeguards against permanent roaming, as this would undermine incentives to invest in mobile networks, encourage arbitrage and fraud, pose technological sovereignty concerns, and threaten the sustainability of Roam Like at Home for European consumers.
The DNA also needs lighter ex-ante access rules, with targeted remedies for genuine bottlenecks, and support for copper-to-fibre migration based on local conditions and consumer choice, not mandatory switch-off.
Beyond the DNA, members identified three further priorities for Europe's digital future:
Cloud and AI: Accelerating investment in European cloud, edge and AI infrastructure through the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), with faster deployment, affordable low-carbon energy and stronger opportunities for European providers.
Competition and scale: Enabling consolidation through a forward-looking competition framework that reflects the more dynamic approach of the EU Merger Guidelines review and better recognises scale, investment and innovation as drivers of European competitiveness.
Resilience, cybersecurity and defence: Creating the conditions for greater investment in secure and resilient networks, in line with the DNA's pro-investment objectives. The Cybersecurity Act review must result in workable, proportionate rules that strengthen security without undermining the sector's capacity to invest or imposing unnecessary costs on its customers. Telecom operators should also be recognised as critical defence enablers, with investment and procurement support for secure connectivity and dual-use satellite, drone and cloud-edge solutions.
Renewed governance to support Europe's connectivity ambitions
The General Assembly reconfirmed Steven Tas (Chief Regulatory Officer, Proximus) as Chairman of Connect Europe's Executive Board for an additional one-year term, until the end of 2027.
Elisa (Andrei Nahkala, Vice President, Public Affairs) was appointed as a new member of the Executive Board. Deutsche Telekom (Jakob Greiner, Vice President European Affairs), Proximus (Steven Tas, Chief Regulatory Officer), Swisscom (Thomas Stemmler, Head of Regulatory and Policy) and TIM (Giacomo Robustelli, Head of International and European Affairs) were each renewed for a further three-year mandate as Board members.
These decisions ensure continuity in Connect Europe's leadership as the association advances its priorities for Europe's digital future.
Alessandro Gropelli, Director General of Connect Europe, said: “Europe cannot compete on ambition alone. It needs investment, scale and action. The DNA, CADA and CSA must turn political promises into real opportunities to build, innovate and compete, delivering tangible benefits for European citizens and businesses.”