On 20th June, as part of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), CEN and CENELEC, together with the Coolproducts campaign, organised a special event dedicated to the role of European Standardization in supporting Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policies. “Ecodesign and Energy Labels: setting standards for consumers” took place at the European Commission Charlemagne building in Brussels as part of the Policy Conference of the European Sustainable Energy Week 2019 (EUSEW 2019).

Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policies supported by European Standards are key to concretely develop the transition to a circular economy while putting the consumer at the centre of a strong product policy. For this reason, the event was an opportunity for a wide array of speakers from the standardization community, consumer organisations, the industry and EU institutions to get together to discuss the role of Ecodesign, Energy Labelling and the underpinning standards with regards to the challenges that this transition poses.

With a world-class community of scientists and a strong research infrastructure, Europe has an important potential in leading technological advancements on Artificial Intelligence (AI). It is therefore essential that the best research teams in Europe join forces to tackle major scientific and technological challenges, hampering the deployment of AI-based solutions.

The call articulates in two actions:

1. Research and Innovation Action to mobilise the best researchers into networks of excellence centres that will reach a critical mass on key AI topics.
2. Coordination and Support Action to foster exchange between the selected projects, and other relevant initiatives. 

These actions are expected to create synergies with the industrial sector and foster an ecosystem of R&D resources, expertise and infrastructure (in areas such as HPC, robotics equipment, IoT infrastructure). 

As part of the next long-term EU budget - the Multiannual Financial Framework - the Commission has proposed the Digital Europe programme, the EU’s programme focused on building the strategic digital capacities of the EU and on facilitating the wide deployment of digital technologies, to be used by Europe's citizens and businesses. With a planned overall budget of €9.2 billion, it will shape and support the digital transformation of Europe’s society and economy.

The programme will boost investments in supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and ensuring a wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society. Its goal is to improve Europe's competitiveness in the global digital economy and increase its technological autonomy.