The STG Talks, held weekly at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, serve as a space for discussion for the entire EUI community. Led by the Policy Leader Fellows, the Talks are a place for informal learning and exchange on global issues affecting different areas of policymaking.
In recent years, digital policy has moved to the centre of the EU’s agenda, including in foreign affairs. The 2022 Council conclusions on EU digital diplomacy established a general framework for external action, further developed through subsequent initiatives. At the same time, reports by Draghi and Letta have underscored the EU’s structural dependencies on external actors and its lag in key technological domains.
In response, the EU has stepped up its external digital engagement. In June 2025, the EEAS and DG CONNECT presented the EU’s International Digital Strategy, followed by the EU Tech Business Offer, aimed at strengthening the Union’s global digital role, including through greater support to its private sector.
Against this backdrop, this Talk examines whether, and how, digital diplomacy can contribute to building the EU’s global influence. It analyses the evolving policy framework, organisational set-up, and implementation mechanisms of the EU’s digital diplomacy, with a particular focus on external engagement in developing contexts. The discussion assesses current progress, identifies key gaps, and outlines options for strengthening the EU’s role in the global digital landscape.
The Talk will be followed by a panel discussion bringing together perspectives from digital innovation, economic and regulatory policy, security, and international relations.
Speakers:
- Nele Leosk, Policy Leader Fellow, STG
- Francisco De Abreu Duarte, Full-time Assistant Professor, STG
- Thomas Streinz, Full-time Professor, Joint Chair Department of Law and Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
- Federica Bicchi, Associate Professor, London School of Economics
- Lorenzo Moretti, Research Fellow, RSC
This event will be held in hybrid format. Please indicate whether you will attend in person or online during registration.