During the reporting period, I attended a wide range of events in the national and international spheres of Internet and digital policy, as well as industry-related activities. The year began with several New Year’s receptions: at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, as well as at eco Berlin and eco Cologne.

In February, the focus was on preparatory work and engagement in various bodies, including the Advisory Board meeting of the Audiovisual Observatory (a department of the Council of Europe) in Strasbourg and the EuroDIG Planning Meeting, which was held virtually. I represented eco at a reception at the French Embassy in Berlin on the topic of the music and film industry in the age of AI. Over several days, I took part virtually in the appointment of new professors at the German University of Digital Science.

In April, committee and association work continued: at the start, the Steering Committee of the German Internet Governance Forum (IGF-D) met virtually, followed by the ceremony marking the founding of the German University of Digital Science in Potsdam, where I represented eco with a presentation.

In May, the focus was on international exchange and specialist events: from 11 to 14 May, I attended the EuroDIG conference in Strasbourg, and on 22 May I took part in a Digital Reality event in Frankfurt.

In June, the schedule became significantly busier with several international meetings. From 13 to 15 June, the Governance Circle met in Palma, followed by the UN IGF in Oslo. Also in June, I took part in a panel discussion at the “30 Years of DE-CIX” celebration in Frankfurt.

At the end of July, a small, informal gathering took place in Dresden to review the content of the Oslo IGF and WSIS+20. WSIS also addressed the future continuation (extension of the UN mandate) and the scope of topics for the UN IGF, if extended.

The rest of the year focused on association events and further committee meetings. On 28 August, the eco Interaction Day took place in Cologne, followed the next day by the annual eco Annual General Meeting.

Several events followed in Berlin in September: the Jimmy Schulz Memorial Dinner, an IGF-D Steering Committee meeting the next day, and the eco Summer Party on 11 September.

Also in September, I took part via video in the first jury meeting for the ISPA UK Awards for 2025. This was followed on 19 September by the Advisory Board meeting of the Audiovisual Observatory at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and on 22 September by a board meeting in Cologne.

In October, there was an event in Frankfurt on the State Treaty on Gaming (points for the revision of the current treaty in 2026). A talk in Karlsruhe on the topic of “The Internet, Email and the Future” at the SPD Karlsruhe branch brought October to a close.

In November, there were once again international jury and association commitments: I attended the final jury meetings of ISPA UK in London, followed by the gala and awards ceremony.

The year drew to a close in December with a farewell to the Director of the Audiovisual Observatory at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and, right at the end of the reporting year, the eco/DE-CIX Christmas party in Frankfurt.

Incidentally, the IGF’s mandate was made permanent in mid-December

Prof. Michael Rotert
eco Honorary President