We all welcome European Commission’s proposal and solutions brought by Artificial Intelligence and Data Act. Both have the potential of bringing small and medium-sized enterprises, startups and entrepreneurs’ tangible benefits and even a new opening.

Approximately 42% of SMEs in Europe is considered to be digitally advanced, while another 11% is considered digitally uncertain. Digitally uncertain means for instance SMEs that still do not have a website – and some research suggests that there is still around 20% of them in the EU. With regards to AI practices, OECD study have found that AI practices are diffusing across all sectors, with services adapting the fastest and SMEs staying behind in implementing new solutions. Another study shows that lack of digitization impacts most the smallest SMEs.

We endorse the risk-based approach adopted by the Commission and the imposition of strict restrictions on high-risk AI applications. At the same time, we believe that clarity and precision around the language of the regulation is needed to preserve innovation in Europe. As much as 80% of industrial data remains unused. The Data Act proposal has the potential to make data more accessible and thus stimulate a competitive data market. At the same time, the act’s scope shall not impose disproportionate obligations on enterprises, hindering their development. In our opinion, it is worth creating incentives thanks to which enterprises will be willing to share data and effectively use data that has already been shared.

We invite you to join a debate that aims at providing a discussion and exchange platform for SMEs, Institutions, business, research and experts from the European environment on selected potential impacts, benefits, reservations and recommendations in order to achieve base for harmonized and transparent regulations for years to come.

You can now watch the recording of a debate here.

AGENDA:
13:30-14:00 Light Lunch served in the room
14:15-14:30 Welcome word from hosts

Kosma Złotowski, Member of the European Parliament, ECR Group
Axel Voss, Member of the European Parliament, EPP Group
Adam Bielan, Member of the European Parliament, ECR Group
Katarzyna Prusak- Górniak, Permanent Representation of Republic of Poland
to the EU

14:40-15.30 Debate & Questions

Roman Bieda and Dorota Skrodzka-Kwietniak, AI LAW TECH Foundation
Grzegorz Zajączkowski, Chief Data Officer, Polskie Porty Lotnicze
Anna Mazur, Allegro Digital Poland

Moderator: Michał Boni / Horst Heitz, SME Connect

The event is organized by the Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP), SME Connect, and Baltic Power.

Offshore wind power generation is one of the fastest-growing energy sector segments in Europe. Europe`s leadership in offshore renewable energy can be based on the enormous potential offered by the European Union’s seas from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Unlocking this technological and physical potential is crucial if the European Union is to achieve its CO2 emissions reduction targets by 2030 and become climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this target, there is a need to urgently speed up the development of new projects. 

The purpose of this event is to emphasize, with the participation of MEPs from the Baltic Sea Member States, the need of various offshore wind projects also as a tool for fulfilling the recent Marienborg Declaration and REpowerEU strategy objectives – including the increased EU renewables target by 2030. We wish to highlight the importance of accelerating the development of renewable energy sources by 2030 to abolish the dependency of the EU on Russian fossil fuel imports in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

AGENDA

Welcome by Horst Heitz, Chair of the Steering Committee of SME Connect

Opening Remarks by Zdzislaw Krasnodebski, MEP Vice-Chair of ITRE Committee

Keynotes:
Jaroslaw Broda, Board Member of Baltic Power
Pierre Tardieu, Chief Policy Officer of Wind Europe

Debate:
Inese Vaidere, MEP ECON & ENVI Committee
Niels Fuglsang, MEP ITRE Committee
Zdzislaw Krasnodebski, MEP Vice-Chair of ITRE Committee
Marcin Nowacki, Vice-President, Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (ZPP), President, European Enterprise Alliance and Rapporteur for the EESC opinion on Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy

In case of any questions or to confirm your participation, please contact Brussels Office Head, Ms. Agata Boutanos: a.boutanos@zpp.net.pl.

*Registration is password protected, please use offshore to confirm registration.