On 1 December, the European Union (EU) and Singapore held their second Digital Partnership Council meeting in Brussels, emphasising their commitment to collaborate in various digital areas, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. Both parties reaffirmed their desire to enhance mutual competitiveness, foster innovation, and establish digital rules and standards.
The EU-Singapore Digital Partnership was launched on 1 February 2023, following an announcement by Ursula von der Leyen and Lee Hsien Loong, to strengthen ties in Asia. This partnership aims to empower citizens and businesses through technology, focusing on key areas such as artificial intelligence, digital identities, and semiconductors. It seeks to bridge the digital divide and promote cooperation in cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
The Digital Partnership Council, co-chaired by Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, and Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, highlighted the numerous active engagements and achievements of the partnership while aligning future cooperation priorities with the current digital landscape.
The European Commission and Singapore discussed several areas for future collaboration, including: Artificial Intelligence, Online Safety and Tackling Scams, Trust Services, Cybersecurity, Data and Semiconductors and Quantum.
The two sides also acknowledged the Digital Trade Agreement signed in May 2025 between the EU and Singapore. This agreement establishes binding rules to build consumer trust, ensure legal certainty for businesses, and eliminate unjustified barriers to digital trade.
Overall, the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership Council will play a crucial role in enhancing economic security, strengthening research and innovation capacity, and building resilience in critical technologies such as semiconductors.
