At its 74th General Assembly, CENTR engaged with the European Commission on aligning EU digital policy with global standards and supporting an open, resilient internet ecosystem. CENTR welcomed Xavier Coget, Member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, as keynote speaker at its 74th General Assembly, held in Brussels.
Shaping Europe’s Digital Future: Key Insights from CENTR GA74
The 74th CENTR General Assembly, held on 19 November 2025 in Brussels, brought together 37 Full Members, Associate Members and Observers from across the CENTR community.
The GA served as an important moment for ccTLDs to reconnect, exchange operational and policy insights, and reflect collectively on the ambition for the European ccTLD community to remain a reliable and proactive partner to policymakers, while ensuring effective collaboration within the ccTLD community. With representatives from across Europe gathered in one room, and many more joining online, the GA offered a valuable opportunity to assess the current landscape and consider the challenges and opportunities ahead for our community.
Within this context, CENTR welcomed Mr. Xavier Coget, Member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen. His keynote offered an overview of the Commission’s current direction: a shift toward simplifying and implementing the digital rulebook rather than expanding it.
Mr. Coget underlined that businesses often feel the regulatory burden is too heavy and that simplification efforts, such as the recently published digital omnibus, aim to make the framework easier to navigate. He also pointed to broader work on AI, data, and digital tools, as well as next year’s launch of the Digital Fitness Check, which will invite stakeholders to share what works and what does not.
During the exchange, members raised questions about international internet governance and how Europe can continue to play a strong role in shaping it, expressing. Members stressed the importance of ensuring that this model remains central as Europe works on new digital frameworks.
In response, Mr. Coget stressed that the EU is fully committed to remaining a reliable, proactive, and confident leader on the global stage, and that the EU is ready to step up where needed to uphold an open, secure, and trusted digital environment.
Members also asked how the Commission plans to ensure that regulation remains workable for SMEs and how technical communities can stay involved. Mr. Coget pointed to ongoing industry dialogues and noted that CENTR can serve as a bridge between its members and the Commission.
Members then noted that ccTLDs do not operate in a vacuum and several upcoming Commission initiatives will have repercussions on the whole internet infrastructure. Mr. Coget underlined that, for instance, the upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act will aim to strengthen European cloud capabilities and address issues such as security and sovereignty, to support the whole internet stack in being more competitive and resilient.
In response, members raised questions about Europe’s technological independence and the need to reinforce European digital infrastructure. Mr. Coget explained that the EU recognises it dependence on external providers and the consequent will to encourage the development of more European technology actors. At the same time, he stressed that this must be done carefully, avoiding excessive protectionism while strengthening cybersecurity and promoting investment from Europe into Europe.
As CENTR and its members navigate the implications of the EU’s evolving digital agenda, ongoing dialogue with institutional partners will remain crucial. The exchange at GA74 demonstrated once again the importance of constructive cooperation in ensuring that Europe’s internet remains secure, stable, interoperable and open.
To learn more about Monsieur Coget’s keynote and the themes explored during GA74, we invite you to consult our full press release: pr-74th-ga.pdf.
