Artificial Intelligence and International Development — Insights from Danny Van Roijen, EU Public Policy Expert
Roundtable — YULCOM Technologies × FARI – AI for the Common Good Institute
Theme: AI & International Development — Episode 3 of 6
🇪🇺 Is it time we finally listened to Europe on AI?
🎙️ Danny Van Roijen, an EU public policy expert, delivers a clear and ambitious message: there can be no trustworthy AI without controlled data and responsible regulation.
📌 In the first two episodes, the themes of data and legal frameworks were already central:
– Jean Van Wetter (Enabel) advocated for fair cooperation built on data generated through on-the-ground projects.
– Grégory Depasse (CGI) emphasized the need for a clear legal framework tailored to local realities, to avoid a technological debt trap in Africa.
🔍 This week, Europe joins the conversation.
Danny Van Roijen outlines the European vision for AI, built on three pillars:
✅ Smart regulation – With the AI Act, the EU is creating the world’s first legal framework based on risk management, transparency, safety, and fundamental rights.
✅ A strong data strategy – Governance, interoperability, and sector-specific datasets (health, climate, agriculture) to ensure data can flow securely and confidently.
✅ Citizen empowerment – Enabling individuals to voluntarily share their data, ensuring AI serves the common good.
💬 “AI is the most advanced form of software. But great software requires great data.”
🎥 In this video excerpt, he expands on these three key points:
➡️ Why data matters more than the hype around AI systems
➡️ How Europe is structuring data flows, beyond GDPR
➡️ How this strategy fosters innovation without sacrificing citizens’ digital sovereignty
📲 Watch the full video to discover what Europe really has to say about the future of AI.
📌 This series is part of “AI and International Development – Cross-Perspectives Belgium–Quebec”, an initiative by YULCOM Technologies, in partnership with FARI.
