EU Unity Grows Around Digital Sovereignty Amid Renewed US-Europe Tensions

A broad political consensus is emerging within the European Union to reduce reliance on US tech companies and build independent digital infrastructure, spurred by concerns over recent policy shifts in the United States.

The shift in focus comes after a period of increased friction with Washington, particularly following the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency. MEPs across the political spectrum – from the Socialists and Democrats to the Greens, and even national conservatives – are now advocating for greater technological autonomy. “We need to reduce Europe’s dependence on a handful of US tech oligarchs,” stated Alex Agius Saliba, a Member of the Parliament from the Socialists and Democrats group. This growing concern reflects a historical pattern of European nations seeking greater control over their own destinies, a theme explored in discussions about infrastructure and societal reliance.

The call for a “Eurostack” – a fully European digital ecosystem – is gaining traction, with Michał Kobosko of Renew Europe supporting the development of “a European digital ecosystem from top to bottom.” Even Sarah Knafo, from the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists Group, backed a recent parliamentary report on technological sovereignty. EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has affirmed the Commission’s commitment to decreasing digital dependency and constructing this Eurostack, as part of a wider strategy. This move is particularly significant as it could reshape the global balance of power in the technology sector.

However, policymakers acknowledge that simply pursuing “sovereignty” is insufficient; it must be tied to democratic principles. Proposed reforms to the EU’s long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and public procurement directives, alongside the Cloud and AI Development Act, offer concrete opportunities to invest in open-source components, federated architectures, and interoperability standards. Further details on these proposals can be found here. The European Commission is also exploring the Digital Commons European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) as a potential anchor for sovereign digital solutions, as outlined in the From Public Investment to Public Value policy brief.

Officials say the upcoming negotiations surrounding the MFF budget will be a crucial test of whether these values will be translated into tangible action.