The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) held its party congress in Budapest on 19-21 November.
Afke Schaart, Vice President Europe, GSMA, took part in a high-level breakfast roundtable debate on the Digital Single Market (DSM), hosted by MEP Kaja Kallas (European Parliament Joint-Rapporteur on the DSM Report). MEPs and industry participants debated a wide range of digital issues, from the DSM Strategy itself, through many of its components, such as the role of platforms and a level playing field, to other related hot topics, such as consolidation.
The GSMA was also invited to participate in a fringe meeting organised by the Gender Equality Network (ALDE GEN), featuring a panel debate on Women in Tech: How women can help the digital single market reach its full potential. Flo Clucas OBE, President of the ALDE GEN Network, chaired the vivid panel discussion with MEP Catherine Bearder (UK), MP Marta Pascal I Capdevilla, Convergencia Democratia de Catalunya, MEP Antanas Guoga (LT) and Kiki Walravens, Director EU Institutional Relations, GSMA Europe. This presented an opportunity for the GSMA to raise awareness of its GSMA Connected Women programme.