Europe’s Digital Future: MEPs Call for Bold Moves Toward Technological Sovereignty
- maria tsaousi
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
As the global tech race accelerates and geopolitical tensions reshape supply chains, the European Union is stepping up its game. On June 3rd, the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) committee adopted a forward-looking report with a clear message: Europe must reclaim control over its digital future.
Why This Matters: Europe's Digital Dependency
Today, over 80% of the EU’s digital products, infrastructure, and intellectual property come from outside Europe. Whether it’s cloud computing, AI, semiconductors, or digital payments, Europe is heavily reliant on a handful of foreign tech giants. This dependence leaves the EU vulnerable—not just economically, but strategically.
In a world where data is power and infrastructure is influence, technological sovereignty isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
The Vision: A European Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
At the heart of the new proposals is the creation of a European Digital Public Infrastructure, a comprehensive digital ecosystem that includes:
Semiconductors
Connectivity and 5G/6G networks
Cloud infrastructure
Artificial intelligence
Data and software systems
This initiative would be funded under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), with investment focused on cutting-edge technologies such as high-performance and quantum computing, AI ecosystems, and digital libraries.
Reforming Rules, Powering Innovation
The MEPs didn’t stop at infrastructure. They’re also calling for:
Regulatory reform to eliminate barriers to private investment and innovation.
New legislation to manage risks from high-risk foreign vendors.
A risk assessment framework to identify and reduce vulnerabilities in the digital value chain.
Simplified access to funding for start-ups and scale-ups working in critical tech sectors.
More strategic public procurement to support open-source and interoperable solutions.
Energy and Data: The Sovereignty Triangle
Rapporteur Sarah Knafo (ESN, France) emphasized that digital sovereignty also hinges on two often overlooked factors: energy and data hosting.
“To achieve competitive electricity, we must eliminate anti-nuclear rules from the European electricity market. And we must relocate the hosting of sensitive data to Europe,” Knafo said.
These remarks reflect growing concerns that high energy prices and foreign-owned cloud services are undermining Europe's competitiveness and digital security.
What’s Next?
The report—though non-binding—was adopted with strong support (63 votes in favor, 5 against, 10 abstentions), thanks to a compromise between major political groups (EPP, S&D, Renew, and Greens/EFA). The next step is a vote in the full Parliament plenary, expected in the coming weeks.
The Big Picture
This initiative signals a major shift in EU digital strategy: from regulation to construction, from dependency to autonomy. While the goals are ambitious, the direction is clear—Europe aims to become a global leader in trusted, secure, and innovative digital infrastructure.
But for that to happen, words must turn into budgets, and ideas into action.
What Do You Think?
Is Europe finally on the right track toward digital sovereignty? Can public-private cooperation scale fast enough to meet the challenges? Join the conversation below or share your thoughts on X/Twitter using #EUDigitalFuture.
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