Humboldt Speech on Europe by the Vice-President of the European Commission
"I [...] have the unpleasant feeling that democracy is somewhat losing ground. That the open spaces of the past have dwindled into the fragmented online spaces where no one really has to talk with one another anymore."
On 25 October 2021, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margrethe Vestager, honoured the Walter Hallstein Institute with a Humboldt Speech on Europe - the first time in a full Senate Hall since the pandemic. She spoke about "Democratic values in a digitalised Europe". In her speech, Ms Vestager emphasised the importance of rights in digital communication, data protection and the control of large digital companies.
After the speech, Ms Vestager engaged in a discussion with the participants, who asked complex questions on the topics alluded to in the speech.