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Outcome document of the Conference “A Space for the Metaverse – Virtual World and the Transition to WEB 4.0”

By INSPIRATION: Strategic documents, Regional strategy, Scope of the strategyNo Comments
Outcome document of the Conference "A Space for the Metaverse - Virtual World and the Transition to WEB 4.0"

10.04.2025

The European Commission and the 2025 Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU are organising a Global Multistakeholder High Level Conference on the governance of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds, on 31 March and 1 April 2025.

Objectives and expected outcomes

The conference aims at triggering a global discussion on the principles for the global governance of Web 4.0 and virtual worlds feeding into the World Summit on the Information Society 20 years review (WSIS+20).

The event will bring together, from all over the world, high-level policymakers, technologists, academics, and community leaders who will collaboratively propose governance models of virtual worlds. It will focus on policy solutions for an ethical, value-driven shift to Web 4.0. and standardisation issues related to virtual worlds (including internet standards) and its technical management. Alignment of those governance frameworks with the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance will also be a salient topic of discussion.

Outcomes of the conference

The conference Input paper (available under the tab “background document” below), produced before the conference based on extensive stakeholder consultations, was discussed and subject to rough consensus during the event, paving the way for the production of the conference Outcome paper.

The discussion notably enriched the outcome document by explicitly integrating concrete governance challenges and opportunities related to emerging technologies, particularly regarding digital divides, human rights – including children’s rights – and the evolution of the multistakeholder model.

The conference Outcome paper is a contribution to the global debate on high-level, foundational principles for the emerging fourth generation of the web.

Call for participants statements and contributions (closed)

Each conference parallel session (see agenda below) will consist in:

  1. Short opening remarks from the moderators and subject matter experts, to frame the discussion;
  2. Several participants statements;
  3. A general open discussion.

To facilitate informed and productive dialogue during these parallel sessions, participants will have access to background documents prior to the conference. These materials have been developed through extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in the preparation process. For more information on the steps and methodology underpinning the background documents please consult the project website.

The background documents provide both technical background and prescriptive insights on the governance of Web 4.0, furnishing participants with valuable insights and context to inform their contributions and enhance the overall quality of the discussions. They will be published under background material on this page. Attendees are encouraged to review these documents in advance to fully engage with the subject matter and contribute meaningfully to the conference.

Individuals and organisations interested in sharing their position on the topic, highlighting key areas of agreement or disagreement, are invited to register their willingness to provide participant statements through this survey by the 14th of March 2025. Two minutes will be allocated to each statement.

For logistics reasons, only in person participants will be able to register and deliver participants statements. Individuals and organisations can choose to deliver participants statements in as many parallel sessions as they wish. Online participants are invited to take part in the open discussions, without any requirement to indicate ex ante their willingness to intervene.

Individuals and organisations who will deliver participants statements will be able to share a written input (i.e., transcript of their statement and/or additional considerations) to be made available to all participants through the conference website.

Logistics

The event will take place at the Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170, Brussels and online. Connection details for online participants will be shared shortly before the start of the conference.

Background

The conference delivers on Action 9 of the European Commission Communication “An EU initiative on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds: a head start in the next technological transition“ which was adopted in 2023. This action requires the European Commission to “engage with existing multi-stakeholder internet governance institutions to design open and interoperable virtual worlds [from Q4 2023]; and support the creation of a technical multi-stakeholder forum to address certain aspects of virtual worlds and Web 4.0 beyond the remit of existing internet governance bodies [from Q1 2024].

 

You can read the outcome document of the Conference “A Space for the Metaverse – Virtual World and the Transition to WEB 4.0”    HERE

Details

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology 

Artificial intelligence

Metaverse

Internet of things

Web development

Scope of the strategy

Regional strategy

Organisation

European Commision

Stakeholders involvement 

The outcome document is implemented with the support of the Polish Embassy

Internet governance: Keeping the internet open, free and unfragmented

By Bulgarian, English, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Educational resources, Methodology, Other, Other educational resourcesNo Comments
Internet governance: Keeping the internet open, free and unfragmented

09.05.2025

The internet is a decentralized network of networks, governed from its inception by a wide range of stakeholders—governments, private companies, the technical community, and civil society. This diversity fuels an ongoing global debate: should states have a dominant role in internet governance, or should all stakeholders participate equally?

Two Opposing Approaches

There are two primary models of internet governance: the multilateral model, where states lead decision-making, and the multistakeholder model, where governments, businesses, technical experts, and civil society collaborate as equals.

The European Union (EU) strongly supports the latter. It advocates for an open, free, and unfragmented internet in which all actors have an equal say. In contrast, countries like China and Russia favor state-centered control, asserting greater authority over internet infrastructure, content, and norms within their borders.

Key Stakeholders and Organizations

Internet governance is carried out by various organizations, including:

  • ICANN – manages domain names and IP addresses through global consensus.

  • IETF – develops foundational internet protocols via open working groups.

  • ISOC – promotes a free, open, and secure internet worldwide.

  • W3C – creates web standards like HTML and CSS.

  • ITU (a UN agency) – regulates telecoms and radio frequencies globally.

  • IGF – a dialogue-based forum uniting stakeholders to discuss policy challenges.

The EU as a Guardian of Internet Openness

The EU plays a key role in promoting net neutrality and consumer rights. Regulations like the Open Internet Regulation, Digital Services Act, and Digital Markets Act aim to create a fairer, safer digital space. The EU also engages in global dialogues and helps shape international standards for internet governance.

Challenges from Authoritarian Models

China and Russia are advancing a “sovereign internet” vision—restricting content, monitoring users, and building national infrastructures. China’s controversial proposals, such as the “New IP” standard by Huawei, sparked fears of centralized state control and fragmentation of the global internet. Though rejected, these proposals continue to surface under new names, such as IPv6+.

Such initiatives raise the risk of creating multiple incompatible networks or “splinternets”, undermining the open exchange of information, trade, and cybersecurity cooperation.

A Global Digital Compact

In 2024, the UN adopted a Global Digital Compact (GDC) to promote a safe, inclusive, and rights-based internet. While it supports the multistakeholder model and condemns internet shutdowns, some critics argue that its development lacked sufficient non-governmental involvement, and its voluntary funding mechanisms for initiatives like IGF remain unstable.

Conclusion

Internet governance is a complex, evolving process involving actors with competing values and interests. The EU plays a leading role in defending a free and open internet through inclusive, expert-driven processes. However, divergent approaches from authoritarian states challenge this vision, requiring ongoing diplomatic efforts and global cooperation to preserve the internet as a shared, open resource for all.

You can find the full document in the details below or HERE.

Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Basic digital skills

Level

Middle

Type of the educational resource

Methodology

Other educational materials

Language of the educational resource

Bulgarian

English

Methodology

Educational resource to introduce students to global models of internet governance, the role of various stakeholders, and the importance of maintaining an open and free online space.

Country providing the educational resource

Other

Organisation providing the educational resource

FREE TRAINING with digital competence vouchers

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
FREE TRAINING with digital competence vouchers

10.09.2024

The digital competence voucher trainings offered by RAABE Bulgaria are free courses funded by the Human Resources Development Programme 2021-2027. They are aimed at employees wishing to acquire or improve their digital skills at basic, intermediate and advanced level, according to the European Digital Competence Framework DigComp 2.1. The trainings are conducted remotely in a videoconferencing environment with a leading lecturer and include access to learning materials via an online platform. Upon successful completion and passing an exam, participants receive a certificate for the acquired level of competence.

 

Your new opportunity to acquire and improve your digital skills at basic, intermediate and advanced levels of digital competence in line with the European Framework – DigComp 2.1 levels 1-2 and 3-4.

 

What is the focus of the programme?

The main focus of the training is to acquire the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes to use digital technologies, build basic digital competences and apply them in different subject areas. The topics in the additional module are aimed at building skills for using basic public digital services in the Republic of Bulgaria.

What is the format of the RAABE trainings?

RAABE offers distance learning in a videoconferencing environment with a leading speaker – an expert in the field. Participants will also be able to prepare independently with unlimited access to the training materials on our platform https://raabeonline.com

What is the duration of the training?

For General Digital Skills (Levels 1 and 2 of DigComp 2.1.), 45 training hours are provided. The additional training module for Public Digital Services is 10 training hours. In total for the basic level – 55 training hours spread over several days according to a pre-announced schedule.

 

How does the training end?

Participants of the training take a final exam, which is conducted electronically in the electronic certification module of the Single Certification Center. Anyone who has attended a minimum of 80% of the scheduled hours is eligible to take the exam. A trainee may take the exam no more than twice.

Upon successful completion of the exam, the learner receives a Certificate of Competence in accordance with the European Digital Competence Framework DigComp 2.1.

Details

Website

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital technology

Digital Skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice