08.10.2026
10:30 - 16:30 Uhr

Digital sovereignty is becoming a key factor in shaping Europe’s future digital infrastructure. This first part of our cross-border dialogue brings together data center associations, policy experts, infrastructure providers and industry representatives from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany – with the perspective of also including Luxembourg – to discuss how regional strategies can contribute to a stronger and more resilient European digital ecosystem.

The event will focus on the political, regulatory and economic framework for digital infrastructure development, comparing national and regional approaches across the Benelux countries and Germany. Contributions from representatives of BDIA, DDA, eco, EUDCA and the wider digital infrastructure community will address questions of investment control, European governance, regional data center development and the role of networks and Internet hubs in strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty.

The aim of this cross-border dialogue is to identify common challenges, differences in regional development and opportunities for closer cross-border cooperation.

Location:
Restaurant Maneblusser City
Nora Tilleylaan 28
B-2800 Mechelen
Google Maps

The stakeholder dialogue will continue on 25 November 2026 in Cologne, where the focus will shift towards practical implementation, best practices and technological developments for resilient and sovereign digital infrastructure.

Please note: As the number of participants is limited, we may need to prioritise registrations in case of high demand. In such cases, preference will be given to participants whose professional background and role most closely align with the core target group of the event described above.

Registration will open shortly. For short-notice registration, please send an informal email to datacenter@eco.de.

Agenda

10:30
Registration
11:00
Welcoming
Carole Santens, BDIA
Joke Ploegmakers-Tuttens, DDA
Anne Omar, eco / FOGTEC
Roland Broch, eco
11:10
Keynote – Europe at the Crossroads
Bernard Lecanu, DC Adviser
11:30
European Governance & Legislation
Johan D. Joos, Eversheds Sutherland Belgium
12:00
Interview: How to gain more control over investments?
Bernard Lecanu, DC Adviser
Johan D. Joos, Eversheds Sutherland Belgium
12:30
How to build up sovereignty
Jean-Philippe Boever, Eolis Media
13:00
Lunch-Break
14:00
Spotlight on Belgium
Friso Haringsma, BDIA
14:30
Spotlight on the Netherlands
Lex Coors, EUDCA (tbc)
15:00
Spotlight on Germany
Gerd J. Simon, Simabra GmbH
15:30
Coffee Break
15:45
Panel: Building up European Networks and Internet Hubs
Frédéric Libotte BNIX / Belnet
N.N., NL-IX
N.N.
16:30
Q&A ‒ End