Future of Europe dominates Estonia summit
Eastern European desire for innovation clashes with Western caution and political upheaval

Brexit, Germany’s shock election result, Catalonia's independence referendum... Europe’s leaders are gathered in Tallinn, Estonia, for a digital summit – but their focus is elsewhere.
Estonia, which holds the EU presidency, and other eastern European economies are keenly attuned to the possibilities offered by digital, Politico says. They are aware of the disproportionate reliance on American technology and are keen to redraw the map in Europe’s favour.
But western Europe thinks differently: just this month, France, Germany, Italy and Spain proposed a new way to tax internet companies, the EU Observer points out. Emmanuel Macron arrived waving an agenda for taxation and tougher regulation.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Worse, what was “billed as a stargazing ‘digital summit’ ... now risks being hijacked” by the broader political landscape, the FT says. Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy did not even attend, instead holding crisis talks on Catalonia’s independence referendum. Greece’s Alexis Tsipras is preoccupied by the IMF’s demands for yet another bank recapitalisation.
Meanwhile, Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spent 30 minutes huddled together, according to Bloomberg. It’s unlikely that a newly-weakened Merkel, who may not be able to form a government for at least two months, had digital innovation at the forefront of her mind.
Still, it's likely the Estonians knew what was coming. As Politico points out, “For an unofficial event with no fixed agenda, it was exquisitely choreographed and tightly controlled” to minimise Theresa May’s ability to push her Brexit demands and keep leaders talking amicably without actually saying anything.
And the organisers took the view that just getting everyone in one room was a coup for the small Baltic state. “The timing is perfect,” one Estonian official told the FT. “All the big elephants will be in the room.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
July 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include an extrajudicial detainment camp, 'alligator Alcatraz', and tax cuts for billionaires.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
On VE Day, is Europe alone once again?
Today's Big Question Donald Trump's rebranding of commemoration as 'Victory Day for World War Two' underlines breakdown of post-war transatlantic alliance
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law