EURid vzw, Belgium
Julie Michel joined EURid, the European Registry in charge of managing the .eu Top-level Domain, as Legal Counsel, in 2017. In 2021, she was appointed Vice-Chair of the CENTR Legal and Regulatory Working Group and became Chair of the Working Group in 2023. Julie started her career as Legal Advisor at the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Brussels and then joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as Associate Advisor for the Technical Cooperation (Policy & Partnerships) in London. She graduated from the University of Louvain in Belgium, participated in the Erasmus exchange program at the Bocconi University in Milan and holds a LLM in Business Law from the University of Montreal.
Fellow Report:
The Summer School on Internet Governance (EuroSSIG) was a fantastic experience, offering a comprehensive overview of internet governance topics and global digital processes. The program featured keynote speakers, presentations, breakout sessions, and a practical exercise on the Global Digital Compact (GDC), creating an enjoyable and enriching blend of self-learning, lectures, and group work.
The program kicked off with a focus on internet governance and geo-strategic policy, with Professor Emeritus Wolfgang Kleinwächter delivering an insightful presentation. This set the stage for later discussions on cyber diplomacy with speakers like Bertrand de la Chapelle and a representative from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. In the afternoon, various experts shared their insights on global internet governance processes, covering initiatives like the IGF, WSIS +20, and the GDC.
On the second day, we dove into the technical aspects of the internet, learning about critical internet resources, ICANN’s role, root server management, and IP address management. We had in-depth discussions on managing country code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) and generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). I had the honour of presenting on the roles and functions of EURid, followed by a session on registrars’ roles.
The third day’s highlight was cybersecurity, cybercrime, and protecting the public core of the internet. A representative from SWITCH/FIRST provided a session on incident handling, and we wrapped up with the fascinating story of dot.Berlin.
The following day focused on digital regulations and human rights, exploring key aspects such as freedom of expression and information, privacy and data protection, access to information and digital inclusion, surveillance, and civil liberties. We learned about their interconnection with digital regulations and recognized that these rights are not uniformly protected across countries.
The final day delved into guidelines and initiatives on artificial intelligence, ending with the fellows presenting stakeholder statements on the Global Digital Compact.
My highlights from the summer school included:
- The faculty members were highly knowledgeable practitioners with extensive international experience, always approachable for discussions during breaks and after lectures.
- The group work on the third revision of the Global Digital Compact helped us build relationships, work cohesively, and learn negotiation skills, emphasising collaborative efforts. My group enjoyed discussing “Data Governance,” learning a lot from each other in our specific roles.
- The multicultural diversity of the fellows and faculty members, combined with the interdisciplinary approach, allowed us to consider various perspectives on the ethical, legal, technical, economic, and social implications of Internet Governance.
- Having fellows present topics related to their work was very beneficial, providing concrete insights and sparking vocations.
- Excellent organisation and social activities, such as town dinners, a visit to the ceramic manufactory, an evening walk to the vineyard, and a fun musical/dancing evening, fostered a beautiful team cohesion.
- Being part of the EuroSSIG alumni community is invaluable, enabling us to stay connected.
In summary, the summer school provides a valuable space to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange ideas, and develop critical thinking for addressing the challenges of internet governance in an increasingly evolving world. Special thanks to Sandra, Ayesha, and Carsten for the incredible organisation, their openness, and for making me feel so welcome!