with

Dr. Frances G. Burwell,

Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council; Senior Director, McLarty Associates,

Jeff Bullwinkel,

Associate General Counsel and Director of Corporate, External & Legal Affairs, Microsoft Europe,

Mario Brandenburg, MdB,

Spokesperson on Technology Policy, Free Democratic Party Germany,

and

Ambassador Dr. Hinrich Thölken,

Director for Climate and Energy Policy and Digital Transformation, German Federal Foreign Office,

moderated by

Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner,

Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany

In the light of the newly elected U.S.-president, technology experts anticipate the Biden administration to bring forward an „alliance of techno-democracies“. At the same time, the European Union and its member states have made their own quest for „digital sovereignty“ a key strategic priority for the coming years. While EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Joe Biden underlined their ambition to cooperate closely in the tech field by launching a Transatlantic Trade and Technology Council in June 2021, many questions remain unanswered. Hence the EU and the United States have yet to synchronize their discussions on the security of critical infrastructures, such as 5G networks. Additionally, it is to be determined how the transatlantic partnership can counter the Chinese techno-authoritarianism. Both actors also still need to find a transatlantic solution to the open question of personal data transfers.

What effect does the Schrems II judgement have on the European trade policy toolset towards the United States? How have the European and U.S. positions towards Huawei evolved? Is there a realistic window of opportunity for stronger transatlantic cooperation with the new Biden administration?

Together with our guests, we will discuss these and many other questions from a transatlantic perspective.

For this event, we have selected in-person spots (Microsoft, Unter den Linden 17, 10117 Berlin) available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to register for this event for an in-person participation, please click here.

For the registration for the virtual participation via Microsoft Teams Live please click here.

Please note: Due to current events, the discussion will take place hybrid and the virtual participation will be conducted via Microsoft Teams Live. Registered participants will receive the dial-in details and link to join this discussion in the registration confirmation and via e-mail ahead of the event. This discussion will be on the record and will be posted afterwards in its entirety on Aspen Germany’s YouTube Channel and Microsoft Berlin Videos.

An in-person participation is only possible with proof of a daily negative test or complete vaccination protection. We kindly ask you to be able to prove this at the entrance. You are obliged to wear a FFP2 mask in all areas. Additionally, we require you to take a health check on the day of the event before entering the building: HealthPolicy – Take the daily COVID-19 check (powerappsportals.com).