Connect Europe grows, puts connectivity on top of the competitiveness agenda

Lisbon, Brussels, 7 November 2024 – Europe’s leading providers of connectivity networks and services gathered in Lisbon for the General Assembly of Connect Europe, hosted by Altice Portugal and Chaired by Pedro Gonçalves. The meeting strengthened the European representation of the connectivity sector at a time of political change across continental Europe and in the US, reaffirming the importance of digital networks in tackling today’s socio-economic challenges.

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Lisbon GA

Connectivity as the cornerstone of competitiveness, security and sustainability

The General Assembly approved the 2025 Strategy of the Association, which foresees to support the role of connectivity in delivering a stronger European economy as well as a more secure, resilient and sustainable Continent. As the new leadership of the European Commission and of the European Parliament discuss how to advance their priorities, the Members of Connect Europe stand for:

  • Securing unprecedented investment in networks that reach every European, by fundamentally reviewing the EU regulatory framework, moving away from the current ex-ante regulation, reforming spectrum policy, and crafting a strong industrial policy for secure and sustainable connectivity.

  • Making the full use of the potential of the telecom Single Market, by achieving adequate scale in the telecom sector and harmonizing rules so we can seamlessly offer best-in-class services to all European citizens, innovate and develop synergies across borders.

  • Accelerating innovation in Europe, by streamlining sectoral regulation, removing unnecessary rules, harmonising more at the EU level and ensuring fairness and a level-playing-field with other market players in the internet ecosystem.

An 8-point plan to achieve the objectives above has been outlined in the Association’s Policy Agenda “Europe’s Digital Choice”, presented in September 2024.

 

New members and a stronger Executive Board

At the General Assembly, the association expanded the total number of members and observers from the current 40 to a total of 43, further strengthening the Association's representation. The following new members were welcomed at this year’s General Assembly: FiberCop, Italy’s most advanced, extensive and widespread network infrastructure operator; Melita, a leading quadruple play provider offering cable television, mobile and fixed broadband Internet and services in Malta; 4iG, one of the leading providers of telecommunications and IT services in Hungary and the Western Balkans.

The General Assembly reconfirmed Steven Tas (Proximus) as Connect Europe’s Executive Board Chairman 2025 for an additional one-year mandate. The Executive Board has also been further reinforced, with the addition of Liberty Global (Eke Vermeer). The following companies were re-elected to the Board for an additional 3-year mandate: BT Group (Daniel Wilson), KPN (Jos Huigen), Orange (Pascal Rogard) and Telenor Group (Krisztina Baracsi). They will therefore continue working along with the current Board members.

 

A new Director General and an experienced Leadership Team

The General Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Alessandro Gropelli – previously endorsed by the Executive Board – as the new Director General of the Association, succeeding Lise Fuhr. Mr. Gropelli (see full bio) is a technology and political affairs leader with previous experience in ETNO and GeSI, Vodafone Group, Telecom Italia and the European Parliament. He has been trained both in Europe and overseas and he is a double national of Italy and Belgium.

Upon his appointment as Director General Mr. Gropelli also announced an experienced Leadership Team, who will work with him to further strengthen the effectiveness and impact of the Association: Maarit Palovirta (see bio) has been promoted to the position of Deputy Director General – Strategy & Policy, while Paolo Grassia (see bio) has been promoted to the position of Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy.

 

Media Inquiries
Oscar Berardi, Communications Manager, Connect Europe
berardi@connecteurope.org +32 476 941835