This European Policy Centre Policy Dialogue, supported by the World Bank, sought to foster a debate on how to ensure that the EU and member states turn digitalisation into an opportunity for all and prevent it from becoming a new dividing line. The debate began with a presentation of the World Bank report Reaping Digital Dividends: Leveraging the Internet for Development in Europe and Central Asia, which was published in March 2017. This was then followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session.

Speakers included: Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive of the European Policy Centre, Hans Timmer, Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank, Hernan Winkler, Senior Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank, Maximilian Strotmann, Member of the Cabinet of Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice-President responsible for the Digital Single Market, Ruth Paserman, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Wolfgang Kowalsky, Policy Advisor, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Arup Banerji, Regional Director, European Union Countries at the World Bank