Brussels: Europe and Arabs

Today, the European Union opened its new office in San Francisco, California, a global hub for digital technology and innovation. The office will enhance the EU's cooperation with the US on digital diplomacy and enhance the EU's ability to reach key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, including policy makers, the business community and civil society in the digital technology sector. According to what was stated in a statement issued by the European Union in Brussels on Thursday, according to the statement: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, said: “The opening of the office in San Francisco responds to the EU’s commitment to promoting transatlantic technology cooperation and advancing global digital transformation. It is based on democratic values ​​and standards. It is a concrete step to increase Strengthening the work of the European Union on issues such as the Internet, the fight against hybrid threats, foreign information manipulation and interference. As a global leader in digital solutions and in developing policies and rules that support the human-centred vision of the Internet and digital technologies, the European Union has focused on creating valuable partnerships in like-minded countries around the world, in particular with the United States. The opening of the office came as a result of the joint commitment of the 2021 EU-US Summit to enhance transatlantic technology cooperation, and is a key part of the conclusions on digital diplomacy, adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council in July of this year. The EU office in San Francisco will seek to strengthen EU standards and technologies, digital policies and regulations, and governance models, and to strengthen collaboration with US stakeholders, including by advancing the work of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council. The office will operate under the authority of the European Union delegation in Washington, DC, in close coordination with the headquarters in Brussels and in partnership with the consulates of EU member states in the San Francisco Bay Area. It will be chaired by Gerard de Graaf, a senior commission official who has worked extensively on digital policies, most recently on new EU statute laws, the law on digital services and the law on digital markets. The office will initially be co-located with the Irish Consulate