This event is an online consultations between the EU and the multistakeholder community, organised in cooperation with Global Partners Digital. 

The multistakeholder approach to the governance of digital technologies is reaching a critical moment. Despite an increasing number of multilateral digital policy processes, the past few years have seen a shrinking space for civil society engagement. The narrative that multilateral and multistakeholder approaches to governance are mutually exclusive has further exacerbated this gap.

As the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) progresses, there is an opportunity to establish a new standard that strengthens and embodies the principles of multistakeholder engagement—openness, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability. Experience has shown that the involvement of diverse stakeholder groups leads to better policy decisions in technology governance.

To ensure that the voices of non-governmental actors are integrated into the EU’s position, the European Union invites EU-based and global stakeholders from civil society, the technical community, industry, and academia to share insights on the WSIS+20 process and the zero draft of the modalities resolution.

This consultation will bring together representatives of the European Union and the global stakeholder community to facilitate an open dialogue on how best to ensure that the WSIS+20 Review Process fully leverages the perspectives and expertise of stakeholders.