The European Union and Singapore convened their second Digital Partnership Council meeting in Brussels, reaffirming their commitment to collaborate on a range of digital issues. The meeting was co-chaired by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, and Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information.
Both parties highlighted ongoing engagements under the partnership and set new priorities for cooperation. Key topics discussed included artificial intelligence (AI), online safety, trust services, cybersecurity, data flows, semiconductors, and quantum technologies.
On AI, both sides emphasized the significance of an administrative arrangement on collaboration in AI safety. They also discussed future exchanges related to AI language models such as the EU’s Alliance for Language Technologies European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (ALT-EDIC) and Singapore’s Sea-Lion initiative.
In terms of online safety and tackling scams, participants agreed to address risks from online platforms jointly. Discussions focused on consumer protection and empowering minors online with tools like age verification systems.
Trust services were another area of interest. Both parties explored cross-border use cases for verifiable credentials using existing digital identity systems.
Cybersecurity remained a priority with both sides aiming to ensure cyber-resilient markets through bilateral and multilateral actions while continually assessing cybersecurity risks.
The council welcomed progress in facilitating data flows between the EU and Singapore and considered ways to expand this cooperation further. Possible joint efforts in developing data spaces were also discussed.
For semiconductors and quantum technology research, there was expressed interest in collaborative projects through frameworks such as Horizon Research. Both sides welcomed opportunities for cross-border investments within the semiconductor sector.
A significant milestone noted during the meeting was the Digital Trade Agreement signed between the EU and Singapore in May 2025. This agreement establishes binding rules intended to build consumer trust, provide legal certainty for businesses, and eliminate unjustified barriers to digital trade.
According to officials from both regions: “Today’s Digital Partnership Council…welcomed the numerous active engagements and achievements of the Partnership, and aligned the priority areas for cooperation with the current landscape.”
The EU-Singapore Digital Partnership Council is expected to play a key role in strengthening economic security as well as enhancing research capacity in critical technologies like semiconductors.
The partnership itself began on February 1, 2023 after being announced at an EU-ASEAN summit by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, alongside then Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong. Since its inception it has prioritized initiatives related to AI development, digital identities management,semiconductor cooperation, trusted data flows,digital transformation, skills development,protection of minors, standards alignment,and digital trade.
These updated priorities follow from the European Commission’s International Digital Strategy released earlier this year which calls for deeper partnerships focused on emerging technologies including cybersecurity measures across global platforms.