European Commission Look Ahead — CAP, Energy, Artificial Intelligence

Brussels (Brussels Morning) This week, the European Commission’s agenda features discussions on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Renovation Summit, which deals with social implications of energy transition, plus a series of conferences and events devoted to solar and fusion energy, and some key discussions on artificial intelligence (AI).

CAP

On Monday, Executive Vice President of the EC for the European Green Deal and Commissioner for Climate Action Frans Timmermans discusses the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The online event organized by the Commission and the European Network for Rural Environment. Participants engages stakeholders and representatives from the regions in a wide-ranging review of post-2020 CAP issues as they address how environmental and climate CAP goals relate to such EU policies as the European Green Deal and subsidies for farmers.

Energy

Also on Monday, Internal Cohesion Commissioner Elisa Ferreira addresses the Renovation Summit 2021, where public, cooperative and social housing providers will discuss how the sector can contribute towards a just energy transition.

Next day, Timmermans discusses solar energy during a summit organised by SolarPower. According to the European Energy Network, solar is the most job-intensive energy source, with the potential to create more than four million jobs globally by 2050.

Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson talks about fusion energy at an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conference, which takes place also on Tuesday. Participants will use this forum for an exchange about key physics and technology issues including innovative concepts of direct relevance to the use of nuclear fusion as a future source of energy.

On Wednesday, Research and Innovation Commissioner Mariya Gabriel discusses nuclear energy at an industry roundtable. Environment Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius liaises with NGO representatives involved in the Renewable Energy field to review the status of renewables’ uptake.

According to Eurostat, in 2019, renewable energy sources made up 34% of gross electricity consumption in the EU 27, slightly up from 32% in 2018. Wind and hydro power accounted for two-thirds of the total electricity generated from renewable sources (35 % each).

Artificial Intelligence

The future of education in an artificial intelligence-driven economy will be analysed by Commissioner Gabriel during an online event, on Monday. Top universities across Europe and the US are heavily engaged in R&D research into AI applications. Top companies also invest heavily in AI research, often in partnership with leading universities in the field.

The online event will look at how these players are driving AI innovation, and how collaborative research and education hubs fuel AI research by bringing researchers, industry and institutional partners together for a common goal.

On the same day, Commission’s VP Margrethe Vestager attends the “Artificial Intelligence: Intensive Online Policy Lab”, a three-day event hosted by Stanford University and the European University Institute.The agenda focuses on emerging AI technologies and their attendant risks as well as major policy areas involving AI. Participants will discuss how regulators should consider AI’s effect on cyberwarfare and cybersecurity, labour markets, as well as the concentration of AI power in a few large companies.