Competitiveness, innovation and Single Market are currently the main buzzwords for the European Union’s thought leaders. As digital technologies continue to shape our future, an opportunity arises for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to take advantage of its unique capabilities and resources to position itself at the forefront of European innovation efforts.

With the new European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as the Polish Presidency of the Council of European Union planned for the first half of 2025, now is the time for innovators and consumers in CEE countries to also have a say on the EU’s digital priorities, related not only to disruptive technology but also the future of the Internet economy.

The CEE Circle for Innovation was launched by the Consumer Choice Center and powered by META, as a collaborative platform for CEE thought leaders in digital policy to foster discussion on both national and European Union’s technology and innovation policies and priorities.

Experts and industry leaders from across the CEE have gathered three times over the course of the past year to discuss the challenges faced by local businesses – both startups and more established companies – in navigating the EU’s tech and innovation regulations, as well as promotion mechanisms.

The experts also identified shortcomings in their countries’ public administrations’ operations and public-private partnerships.