Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy in the EU, argued this Thursday at the Forum Europa in Brussels for the need to simplify European regulations and create continental "champions" in technologies such as artificial intelligence and the defence industry.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, argued this Thursday at the Forum Europa in Brussels for the need for the EU to develop its own technological and defence capabilities to reduce external dependencies.

During the event organised by New Economy Forum in the EU's capital, Virkkunen stated that Europe must "mobilise more capital, simplify regulations, and invest in our own technological future" to maintain its competitiveness and sovereignty.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, unveiled an ambitious plan this Thursday at the Forum Europa in Brussels to position the EU at the forefront of artificial intelligence and critical technologies.

During the event organised by New Economy Forum in the EU's capital, Virkkunen highlighted that Europe already has 13 operational AI factories across 17 Member States, which will provide optimised computing services for businesses and researchers.

H.E. Mr. António Costa, President of the European Council, was awarded the 2025 Forum Europa Prize by New Economy Forum in a ceremony presided over by the H.M. the King of Spain, the President of the Spanish Senate; the President of the Spanish Constitutional Court; the Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Work and Social Economy; and the Spanish Minister for Economy, Trade and Enterprise; at the Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain.

The full transcript of his acceptance speech is reproduced below:

New Economy Forum's Forum Europa started its activities in Brussels, the capital of the European Union, in February 2024, under the motto "Ideas to Strengthen the Union". Since then, New Economy Forum has continued to consolidate it as a meeting point for the political, economic and social spheres of the EU, its Member States, neighbours and partners. 

Climate, Net Zero Emissions and Clean Growth commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, said Tuesday at the Fórum Europa in Brussels that the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on society is "10 times greater" than that of the Industrial Revolution, as it is one of the main global challenges for the next 10 to 20 years, along with geopolitics and climate change.

At the Fórum Europa in Brussels on Tuesday, commissioner for Climate, Net Zero Emissions and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, advocated for a "Marshall Plan for Energy" in the EU, with a boost to renewable and nuclear electrification, more electrical interconnections between EU countries, and an increase in battery storage capacity.

The commissioner for Climate, Net Zero Emissions and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, acknowledged this Tuesday at the Fórum Europa in Brussels that it was "a mistake" for the EU to rely on Russian gas before the invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago and noted that the European Union must commit to its own energy plans.

The European Commissioner for Financial Services, María Luisa Albuquerque, stated this Monday at the European Forum in Brussels that the two major obstacles facing the Savings and Investment Union project she is trying to promote are the lack of speed when working within the European Union and the excessive zeal when it comes to preserving the diversity of the different countries, for which she called for greater cohesion.

The European Commissioner for Financial Services, María Luisa Albuquerque, defended this Monday at the European Forum in Brussels the importance of creating "European champions," much larger companies that are much more productive and competitive.

"You can't innovate with a productive structure made up of companies with 20 employees", she stated during her speech at a meeting organized by the New Economy Forum in the EU capital, where she indicated that it is also key for European companies to be fueled by capital rather than debt.