Video summary
The closing remarks for Cyprus' Open Digital Future Week were delivered by Laszlo, who expressed deep gratitude to the organizers and partners that made the event possible. He specifically thanked the Cypros Institute for hosting the initiative as well as their knowledge partners and sponsors, acknowledging both their intellectual contributions and financial support displayed on the banners. Rather than repeating the numerous topics discussed throughout the day regarding governance, culture, open source ecosystems, funding needs, standardization, and cybersecurity, Laszlo chose to focus his final message on a distinct shift in momentum within the Open Tech ecosystem. He noted that unlike previous years where discussions were often limited to promising or proposing ideas, this year marked a critical transition toward action and delivery, with meaningful conversations extending beyond formal sessions into social gatherings as well.
A central theme of Laszlo's conclusion was the profound sense of responsibility felt by all participants for future generations. He emphasized that current actions are built upon foundations laid by previous initiatives in policy priorities, legislative frameworks, and education, but what is achieved today will define the landscape for tomorrow. This perspective aligns with the mainstream European Union industrial digital policy which advocates for a future based on openness, open source software, open standards, and open technology. Laszlo argued that it is now imperative to act properly not just as an opportunity, but as a moral obligation rooted in our duty to those who will inherit these technological advancements, ensuring that the path forward remains inclusive and secure by design.
The event concluded with high praise for all speakers, panelists, moderators, and participants who contributed actively to the day's work, creating an atmosphere of shared purpose and excellent collaboration. Laszlo extended his thanks to his own team behind "Europe Back To Brussels" before inviting everyone to attend a final reception outside as part of the social events schedule. He ended on a forward-looking note by announcing that the next Capital Cities event will take place in Dublin under the Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union later this October, encouraging attendees to look out for details displayed on screen and promising to see them there at their upcoming gathering.
Read the full video transcript
We are near the end and time for closing
remarks.
Please, Laszlo.
>> Yes.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much and uh
Before I can start speaking because
as you will realize that I donated
a great portion of my closing remarks
time, so
at the conclusion of this
excellent initiative of Cyprus'
uh Open Digital Future Week, so I I'm
going to be very brief in my closing
remarks.
It was great to be part of this program
and as I understood that today I am the
last speaker, right? So, I think this is
the right moment
to express my gratitude to our great
masters of ceremony.
>> [applause]
>> Thank you so much for that.
Uh and I'm really grateful to
to the Cypros Institute for hosting this
event. They were also our knowledge
partner as well as other partners. You
see the logos on this banner as
knowledge partners and special thanks to
our sponsors who were also our knowledge
partners, but they also made it possible
financially to organize this event. So,
thank you so much for that.
Uh I
I I want to avoid the trap of repeating
what was uh
uh what was uh
discussed uh
during the whole day, so I'm not going
to repeat such those things. So, we
discussed a lot a lot of things from
governance, cultural things that the
open source ecosystem the and and the
whole community brings
uh to the benefit of the society. We
discussed
the need for funds. We discussed
standardization
and of course cyber security and
security by design
considerations. So, all very relevant
points. What what I just would like to
remark as a takeaway from on a metal
level, the spirits and the nature of the
discussion. Somehow this is different
this year from the from the beginning of
the year. It is not the same as it was
in the previous years. Now the Open Tech
ecosystem has a discussion has
discussions and events
more going beyond of of promising and
proposing and and claiming for
attention. Now this is time for action.
Now this is time for delivering. This is
what is the takeaway from multiple
speakers and contributions.
Uh this is a momentum.
And this [clears throat] was not just
felt during the the formal discussions
here in this room. It was also in the
the breaks and in the in the social
gatherings. I don't know if Panos is
still in the room. Uh
yes, so we had a very nice discussion
just
lately about
responsibility. And this is my personal
takeaway from today.
Responsibility for the future
generations, right? Because what what we
are doing now, everything
is rooted in foundations that we that we
got from previous generations. The the
the policy priorities, the legislative
framework, the the education priorities
in previous
initiatives. And now what is at stake is
what we do today, it will set the
landscape for the future priorities. And
this is our responsibility to make it to
make it right. And we all believe and
now it is in the mainstream of of an
industrial digital policy of the
European Union that the future should be
on the basis of openness, open source,
open standards, open tech. We all
believe that. This is an opportunity for
us to act properly
because of the responsibility for for
the future generations. So this is this
is the takeaway. I hope you agree that
many of you agree with that. So with a
very much closing again, thank you for
all of you all the participants for the
active
participation in the in today's work. Of
course, all the speakers, panelists,
panel members, moderators excellent,
very well done, great job.
Thank you to my team to perform Europe
BACK TO BRUSSELS.
>> [applause]
[applause]
>> ANYBODY
NOT MENTIONED, BUT YEAH.
To everybody a great attitude. And now
you are invited
>> [applause]
>> to the final social event today, a
reception outside. And see you at our
next capital cities event. I guess it is
on the screen. Yes, indeed. We are going
to have it under the Irish presidency of
the Council of the European Union in
Dublin in October. See you then. THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> [applause]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR