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SiGMA Central Europe: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola took the stage in Rome to officially open SiGMA’s first-ever Central Europe event. Before delivering her keynote speech, she met with members of the Maltese delegation, including Malta’s ambassador to Rome, H.E. Daniel Azzopardi, GamingMalta CEO Ivan Filetti, and Elevate AI CEO Keith Zammit.
A Warm European Welcome
With a smile and confident tone, Metsola greeted the audience, reminding everyone, “Europe is your home” — a place looking ahead, focused on making it easier, safer, and faster to do business, launch startups, and grow.
Standing before a full house, she shared her excitement: “It is great to open SiGMA, right here in Rome, the heart of Europe.” She praised the event’s huge turnout of exhibitors and delegates, describing them as “the building blocks of next generation Europe” and celebrating SiGMA as “one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in the world.”
Proudly reflecting on her Maltese roots, she added, “I’m more than a little proud that it [SiGMA] started in my island home of Malta.”
A Personal Journey with SiGMA’s Founder
Metsola took a moment to reminisce about her university days with SiGMA Founder Eman Pulis. “It’s fantastic to see how your idea has grown from a pitch to a global platform,” she said warmly. “We are so proud of you, and our country has much to be proud of. But, ultimately, above all – of its people, many of whom are here today.”
Europe’s Formula for Success: Growth with Responsibility
Turning her attention to Europe’s thriving tech and gaming sectors, Metsola emphasized that their progress is more than just about growth figures. It’s proof, she said, that “our European way works, that we can be pro business, that we can be forward looking, open to innovation and new tech whilst still doing things responsibly and protecting the most vulnerable.”
She highlighted Europe’s distinctive approach to development: “Balance between growth and responsibility is what makes Europe unique, gives investors predictability, builds trust with users and allows creativity to flourish without leaving anyone behind.”
Breaking Barriers to Stay Competitive
Still, Metsola cautioned that Europe has some catching up to do. “Regulation in Europe is essential, but remains too fragmented.”
She noted that the patchwork of different licensing systems, operating models, and advertising rules across the EU is holding businesses back from expanding smoothly across borders. “That has to change,” she insisted.
As a solution, she suggested exploring the idea of a “28th regime” — a single, optional European framework that would simplify operations while respecting national autonomy. It could be, she said, “the leap we need to collectively look to as a continent but also as a global international giant.”
A Faster, More Dynamic Europe
Metsola shared what she’s been hearing from entrepreneurs across tech, gaming, and finance: Europe needs to move faster and make it easier to invest. “They want a Europe that supports, not one that gets in their way,” she said.
Her warning was clear: “Europe cannot run on nostalgia, we can’t cling to old ways and expect new results.”
To keep Europe at the forefront, she said, businesses must have the tools and freedom to compete and innovate. “I want the European way to mean something clear: innovation and not over-regulation, implementation and not unnecessary bureaucracy and delivery, not red tape. Targeted regulation that gives predictability.”
Smart, Simple, and Fair Rules
Metsola called for smarter, not heavier, rules. Compliance, she said, shouldn’t dominate a business’s time or resources. “Regulation is important, but it should be smart – focused on rule-breakers and not those who play by them.” She added that on this issue, “there is broad agreement.”
“This is a moment Europe cannot afford to miss, we can either shape this new era of tech or watch others do it for us. We were not designed to follow.”
Investing in the Future of Digital Europe
Looking to the future, Metsola spoke passionately about the potential of the digital economy. She described it as full of opportunities to make platforms “safer, more transparent and fairer,” and urged that Europe should be leading this global transformation.
What’s slowing things down, she noted, is a lack of funding and support. She pointed out that Europe already has more AI and tech professionals per capita than the U.S. and nearly three times as many as China.
To drive this growth, she announced that the EU plans to mobilize 200 billion euros for AI and digital industries. She also mentioned the Savings and Investment Union, which aims to channel more funding toward startups and small businesses looking to expand across Europe.
Encouraging Europe’s Innovators
Metsola closed her speech with encouragement for the entrepreneurs and innovators in the room. “To all of you building the future of tech and digital creativity – keep going, you are showing that Europe’s strength lies not in looking back but in shaping what comes next. And I assure you – we have your back.”
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