In an era where Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant frontier but the very architecture of our daily interactions, the governance of our digital landscape has become the defining challenge for 21st-century democracy. On February 12th, 2026, against the backdrop of the World AI Cannes Festival (WAICF), a distinguished assembly of the world’s leading intellectual and policy voices—including our Chief Executive, Erika Staël von Holstein—convened to sign a landmark document: The Cannes Declaration on the Sovereignty of the Mind.
The Declaration is not merely a technical manifesto; it is an ethical compass. As Generative AI systems evolve into technologies of hyper-persuasion, they risk bypassing human reflection to appeal directly to our emotional vulnerabilities.
At Re-Imagine Europa, we work with an extended global network of partners to build a stronger, more resilient, competitive and fairer Europe. This vision is predicated on the principle that technology must remain a catalyst for human empowerment—an extension of our capabilities rather than a replacement for our judgment. We believe that a truly sovereign Europe must be built upon a digital ecosystem where technological progress does not come at the expense of cognitive freedom, ensuring that the “capitalism of minds” is replaced by a framework that honors the unguarded inner lives of its citizens.
“No democracy should accept a situation in which the cognitive autonomy and freedom of entire populations depend on the incentives, policies, or vulnerabilities of a handful of gatekeepers.” — Cannes Declaration, 2026
The work of Re-Imagine Europa is deeply embedded in the strategic imperatives outlined in Cannes Declaration. We are championing a model of Digital and Technological Sovereignty that prioritizes the public interest through three critical lenses:
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Defending Human Agency: We demand clear boundaries against “anthropomorphic AI” designed to simulate intimacy or induce dependency. Technology must respect human dignity, ensuring individuals are treated as citizens with agency, not as datasets to be mined or targets to be nudged.
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European Public-Interest Infrastructure: To achieve authentic sovereignty, Europe must develop its own foundational models. These must be open-source, transparently governed, and rooted in European values, providing a robust alternative to systems shaped by external geopolitical or commercial interests.
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Advanced Technology Diplomacy: We advocate for a technically literate, values-aware diplomacy. This involves establishing global “red lines” for AI supply chains and influence operations, ensuring that innovation remains fundamentally compatible with democratic freedoms.
The Cannes Declaration represents a definitive program of work, not a static statement. It bridges the gap between cognitive sovereignty and digital policy, aligning seamlessly with Re-Imagine Europa’s commitment to building a solid AI framework that fosters a healthier “Media Ecology.”
A Convergence of Global Leadership
The signing of the Declaration represents a significant convergence of expertise across the fields of law, ethics, and digital policy. Alongside our Chief Executive, Erika Staël von Holstein, the document was signed by a coalition of experts committed to this new paradigm of digital rights:
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Stefano Quintarelli, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the UN’s International Computing Centre.
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Gianluca Carlo Misuraca, Founder & CEO of Inspiring Futures.
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Simona Tiribelli, Professor of Ethics and Political Philosophy.
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Francesca Rossi, IBM Fellow and AI Ethics Global Leader.
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Mark Hunyadi, Professor of Social and Moral Philosophy.
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Brando Benifei, Member of the European Parliament and Co-Rapporteur of the EU AI Act.
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Gry Hasselbalch, Senior Key Expert on AI Ethics and Co-founder of DataEthics.eu.
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Paul Nemitz, Principal Advisor at the European Commission.
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Bernard Benhamou, Secretary General of the Institute of Digital Sovereignty.
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Christian Kastrop, Former State Secretary and Professor for Digitalization.
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Emanuela Girardi, Founder and President of Pop AI.
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Marco Bentivogli, Coordinator of Base Italia.
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Francesco Vecchi, Journalist and Author.
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Risto Uuk, EU Policy Lead at the Future of Life Institute.
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Clay Busia, Expert in Digital Governance and Innovation.
By signing this Declaration, Erika Staël von Holstein and her fellow signatories have committed to a step-change in how we educate our societies, regulate our markets, and protect the core of human thought.
The future of our democracy depends on our capacity for discernment and deliberation in a world of simulated intelligence. At Re-Imagine Europa, we remain dedicated to ensuring that human reflection remains the ultimate sovereign in the digital age.
