Haar’s project REMIT will address concerns that technological developments might undermine or degrade international organisations and governance. How can the EU establish itself as an important player in the governance of technology? She will study the discourse and geopolitics around key technologies. “AI is essentially an ungoverned area. China, the US and the EU are currently competing when it comes to regulations. We intend to produce actionable recommendations to help the EU become a better multilateral player in that area; for example, by building multinational cooperation.”

In addition to leading and coordinating the project, Haar will focus on the US perspective on multilateralism. “We’re working on a case study on quantum technology as well as 5G and 6G. We want to develop scenario-testing workshops for policymakers and, ideally, ‘serious games’ to simulate outcomes for different approaches to different technologies.”

This is the first time Haar has coordinated a project of this size, with 40 researchers and 10 support staff members. “The topic is complex, but we have to keep trying to understand the underlying beliefs. We want to understand how actors perceive themselves and how they are misperceived by others. How can we provide a greater understanding as a basis for moving forward?” 

The EU is a “complex animal,” she says, in which national interests might not necessarily align with a joint European vision. But she points out that major global players like the US and China are not monolithic either; they, too, have to contend with dissenting internal voices on several levels. 

For all the internal bickering, Dijkstra thinks the EU has a largely coherent position in support of multilateralism. “There are exceptions, like the UN vote on Israel and Palestine, but on world trade, health, international rules and human rights, the EU has long held a joint line.” He points to the WHO as an example of a multilateral organisation that provided impartial medical advice during the covid pandemic. 

And the EU Horizon grants themselves promote a plurality of voices. “You won’t get the grant if you put together a group of friends,” Dijkstra says. “You need to have a consortium of academic and non-academic partners, thinks tanks, societal organisations from inside and outside the EU. I think that too shows a dedication to multilateralism.” 

International cooperation helps to diffuse conflict, he says. “Of course, things go wrong sometimes, and we’re trying to study what exactly in order to improve. But we should also acknowledge how well things are going under the circumstances.” Despite the challenges, the pair remains optimistic. Haar: “Once all parties realise they share the common goal of resolving global problems, great things can happen.”

Text: Florian Raith
Illustration: Ted Struwer