CEE Digital Coalition

With the deadline for review of Digital Markets Act coming up, it is worth weighing the tangible positive results the regulation had on the market against the burdensome impact of DMA on SMEs, especially in Central and Eastern European Member States - according to the guests of the "Digital Markets Act in practice: Implications for Europe’s competitiveness and the emerging CEE digital hub" e-roundtable co-hosted by #CEEDigitalCoalition and Business & Science Poland. During the conversation, we touched on the need for evaluating DMA in terms of clarity and obligations’ particular effect on smaller and fast-growing ecosystems, such as those in CEE. ➡️Thank you to all of the participants, and most of all to the key speakers: Jean-Sébastien Robert (@EU_Commission) and Maria Teresa Stecher (@ccianet) for contributing to the better understanding of DMA’s impact on Europe’s competitiveness so far.

How is the DMA reshaping Europe’s digital economy –and what does it mean for Central and Eastern Europe? Join our e-roundtable on the real impact of the Digital Markets Act on competitiveness, innovation and the ability of European companies to scale. Organised by CEE Digital Coalition, @CyfrowaPolska and Business & Science Poland, the discussion will bring together policymakers and industry to look at first lessons from implementation, economic effects for startups & SMEs, and the role of CEE as a growing digital hub. 🗓️ 1 April | 10:00 CET 📍 Online Register here ➡️ forms.gle/rjaBqJ8KC6MHR5…

Great to partner yesterday’s Competitiveness & Security Business Summit in Brussels organised by Business & Science Poland 🇪🇺 A timely discussion on Europe’s competitiveness, security and digital regulatory landscape – and how we move from legislation to real delivery. Strong focus on balancing digital sovereignty with openness, so startups and scaleups can grow without isolating trusted partners. Thanks to the organisers, speakers and engaged audience – incl. @michalkobosko MEP & @ondrejkrutilek, MEP. Looking forward to the next edition!

Digital sovereignty isn’t about isolation – it’s about being less naive about dependencies. Not pushing out trusted partners, but giving European startups & scaleups a real chance to grow – according to speakers of the fireside chat held at the Competitiveness & Security Business Summit in Brussels, moderated by @MichaKanownik. We are proud to be an official partner of the CSBS’26 organised by Business & Science Poland. Thank you to @michalkobosko and @ondrejkrutilek for an insightful conversation on on issues of digital sovereignty and impact of the Digital Networks Act on European competitiveness and innovativeness.

The #EU can learn a lot from Ukraine, a country which succeeds by acting rather than regulating. We often lose focus on results by getting lost in processes. Of course EU is under a vastly different kind of pressure than Ukraine, but it should still drive institutions and Member States to act boldly. This also applies to the Digital Omnibus’ section on #cybersecurity and Europe’s overall digital resilience - @IevaIlves during the Digital Opening of the Year 2026 session in Brussels.

The Council is fully committed to simplification. There is an understanding that we need to stimulate innovation, resulting in dedicated efforts to making sure that Digital Omnibus is agreed upon before summer at the Council. – Katarzyna Prusak-Górniak, Digital Attache at the @PLintheEU during the Digital Opening of the Year 2026 session in Brussels

Digital Omnibus should only be the first step towards making Europe competitive and innovative. #EU legislation is still often old and obsolete, but making it simpler and less burdensome for companies in Europe can not come in the way of making sure we are ensuring enough protection to European customers - @TomasZdechovsky during the Digital Opening of the Year 2026 session in Brussels.

This #EU mandate has brought extraordinary push for simplification and burden reduction, in the digital domain in particular. Digital Omnibus Proposal and Digital Fitness Check are serious signs of that. While opinions on Digital Omnibus differ, I think we hit the middle ground and the proper balance. The objective of regulatory simplification is to make the EU a great place to start and scale digital business – Wojciech Saryusz-Wolski, Head of Unit at Policy Implementation and Planning of DG CNECT

.@rita_wezenbeek, Director for Online Platforms: Economy (CNECT.D), @EU_Commission given a speech on goals set out for DMA and DSA and the ongoing proceedings surrounding both of these regulations during the Digital Opening of the Year 2026 session in Brussels, highlighting the significance of providing affected companies with guidance on achieving compliance with #EU regulations.

2026 may be pivotal for the digital economy of Europe. The shift of efforts towards competitiveness aligns with the growing will of #CEE Member States to create a true digital hub for the #EU in our region. A sound approach to making Digital Omnibus a real, ambitious step towards simplification and stimulation will be vital to making making Europe and CEE competitive and innovative- @MichaKanownik during the Digital Opening of the Year 2026 session in Brussels, bringing together experts from EU institutions and representatives of the digital sector from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to discuss the EU’s digital priorities for 2026.

Only hours to go before Digital Opening of the Year 2026 in Brussels. Tomorrow, together with Business & Science Poland, we open the European digital policy year from a #CEE perspective. A joint keynote will be delivered by @RitaWezenbeek (DG CONNECT, @EU_Commission) and Wojciech Saryusz-Wolski (DG CONNECT), setting the tone for 2026 – a decisive year for implementation and competitiveness. The high-level panel features Katarzyna Prusak-Górniak (Perm Rep of Poland to the EU), @IevaIlves (Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine) and @TomasZdechovsky (MEP), moderated by @MichaKanownik (@CyfrowaPolska) As the EU moves from regulation to execution, this debate will connect the Commission, Parliament, Member States and Ukraine – highlighting CEE’s growing role in Europe’s digital future. Register here ➡️ digitalopening2026.eventbrite.com

We’re launching a new #CEEDigitalCoalition Expert Webinars series – online roundtables co-organized with Business & Science Poland on key #EU digital regulations for CEE. We start with: ➡️ Digital Omnibus – Regulatory Simplification & Practical Implications for CEE Businesses 🗓 25 Feb 2026 | 10:00–11:30 CET We’ll examine what the proposal really changes, its impact on companies in the region, and whether adjustments are needed before adoption. Join the discussion 👉 forms.gle/KZXyikj62bkrGP…

2026 will be a defining year for Europe’s digital future. As the #EU enters a new policy cycle, digital policy is moving from legislative ambition to implementation, delivery and real impact - with direct consequences for innovation, investment and global competitiveness. Together with Business & Science Poland and @CyfrowaPolska, we invite you to the Digital Opening of the Year 2026 - a high-level discussion on EU digital priorities from the Central & Eastern Europe perspective. 🗓️ 24 February 2026, 4:00 pm CET 📍 Brussels | Rue Belliard 40 🤝 Discussion followed by networking Join the discussion ➡️ digitalopening2026.eventbrite.com

CEE Digital Coalition supports the appointment of @JanKavalirek as the first CEE Ambassador for AI & New Technologies – a key step toward a coordinated regional voice on EU digital and #AI regulation. With major files on the table – AI Act, Data Act and the upcoming Digital & AI Omnibus – CEE needs policies that enable innovation, scale-up and industrial deployment, not excessive bureaucracy. Strong #CEE industry and research, speaking together, can help shape smarter, more competitive European AI policy.

We were proud to participate as a partner in #GoDigital2025 — the largest independent business conference on digital transformation in 🇸🇮 Slovenia. During a duo talk, Nenad Sutanovac (ICT Association of Slovenia) and Maciej Korus (CEE Digital Coalition) discussed CEE’s innovation potential, the role of smart regulation and industry expectations towards the #DigitalOmnibus. Stronger digital cooperation across the #CEE region matters more than ever. Thanks to our Slovenian partners and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ljubljana for enabling this collaboration.

For #CEE to thrive as a digital innovation hub, our countries must act together. Today I discussed closer regional cooperation with @JMiezainis, Parliamentary Secretary at the Latvian Ministry of Economics — exchanging Latvia’s and Poland’s experiences in building strong tech ecosystems. Our talk showed how much untapped potential lies in deeper CEE integration: joint digital-skills efforts, cross-border innovation, and stronger shared positions on EU tech policy. We also underlined the need to bring Latvian and Polish businesses closer together so they can innovate and grow right here in our region. Only by working together can #CEE become a place where bold ideas and ambitious digital projects take shape. @CeeCoalition @LIKTA_LV

How can Europe create the right conditions for innovation, investment, and growth, as well as support startups and SMEs to compete globally? That was the focus of one of the key discussions at the #CEEDigitalSummit 2025. 🎥 After the panel dedicated to Europe’s competitiveness and innovation, experts from across the region - @gustavbudinsky (Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of Slovakia), @wstrzelecki  (Business & Science Poland), and @danielvsetecka (Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czechia) - shared their reflections. Their comments underline a shared ambition - to make Central and Eastern Europe a driving force in Europe’s digital future, turning ideas into impact and innovation into growth.

At the #CEEDigitalSummit 2025 we discussed one of CEE’s biggest challenges – building digital skills for the age of #AI. 🇱🇹 Žydrūnė Vitaitė from Women Go Tech highlighted that only 19% of Europe’s ICT workforce are women – from 27% in RO/BG to just 13% in CZ/PL. @ZVitaite 🇸🇰 Lucia Martišková from Digital Coalition SK showcased the #ITFitnessTest helping students and teachers assess digital skills. CEE has the talent and creativity to build a skilled, inclusive digital society. 🎥 Watch more ⤵️

Following the panel discussion "From Simplification to Stimulation” at the recent #CEEDigitalSummit 2025, @Kamila_Kloc (@EU_Commission) and Ksenia Nowicka (@Meta) shared valuable insights on how the European regulatory agenda is shaping CEE’s capacity to innovate and expand its digital economy. Both speakers emphasized the need to align EU regulations with the region’s unique strengths, ensuring that Central and Eastern Europe can both contribute to—and benefit from—the broader European digital ecosystem. More ⤵️

Data is the bread and butter of the digital economy - and that message echoed strongly at the #CEEDigitalSummit 2025 💡 In the discussion on how to unlock the potential of Europe’s data economy, Bjoern Juretzki (@EU_Commission) and Tomasz Snażyk (AI Chamber CEE) shared their insights: 🔸 One of the biggest problems is that companies are sitting on a lot of data and not sharing it. The Data Act aims to change that - helping data flow and enabling innovation - said Bjoern Juretzki. 🔹The key question is who should secure and who should release the data. We need a common EU code of conduct and clear rules, especially when it comes to health-related information - underlined Tomasz Snażyk. 🎥 Watch their reflections on how Europe can build a trust-based, innovative, and data-driven future ⤵️