Speech by Commissioner Urpilainen at the UN SIDS4 Conference side event on “Building advanced digital network infrastructure to achieve resilient prosperity”

SIDS4 digital side event

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to welcome you to the UN Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference side event on “Building Advanced Digital Network Infrastructure to Achieve Resilient Prosperity.”

And I'm thrilled to have such esteemed panellists with us today.

It's hard to believe that just over three decades ago, the internet was mostly the domain of governments, academic institutions, and technology enthusiasts.

Today the digital economy is one of the foremost drivers of economic growth and poised to accelerate.

Fast, secure, and resilient connectivity is the backbone of our digital age – and it's particularly important for SIDS.

Yet, infrastructure alone is not enough.

If implemented correctly, digital technologies can be a formidable force for inclusive, green, and sustainable growth.

But if implemented incorrectly, they can increase inequalities, threaten the rules-based order, or worse.

Fostering a human-centric digital transition that leaves no one behind is therefore one of the most important challenges we face as the international community.

The EU supports this transition in many ways.

Digital is one of the pillars of Global Gateway – the EU's innovative strategy to mobilise EUR 300 billion towards strategic autonomy and resilience in partner countries.

We're working with partner countries across the world to begin rolling out data centres, submarine and terrestrial fibre cables, and 5G technology – the infrastructure necessary to help close digital divides and boost resilience.

For example, the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Digital Alliance takes a comprehensive approach to the digital transition.

It encompasses everything – from extension of the BELLA cable to policy dialogue on cybersecurity, to support for joint ventures on innovation.

The vision of secure, interoperable, and sustainable digital infrastructure is one of the pillars of the Declaration for the Future of the Internet (DFI).

The Declaration promotes an affirmative and positive agenda for the future of the global internet.

70 partner countries have already endorsed the Declaration so far, including nine SIDS. I encourage all those who have not yet to join us.

Dear Friends,

With the Summit of the Future approaching, now is the time to weigh in with ideas and recommendations.

How can we best address the unique digital challenges facing SIDS?

What works? What doesn't?

When it comes to something as vast and all-encompassing as the Internet, multistakeholder involvement is especially important.

I'm sure you're as excited as I am to hear from the diverse members of our panel.

Together, I believe we can shape a Global Digital Compact that delivers on its goal: an “open, free, and secure digital future for all”.