European Commission unveils technology independence package from US big tech

The European Commission has released its long-awaited technological sovereignty package, aimed at reducing Europe's dependence on American cloud services, chips, and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The question remains whether Europe can actually break free from US big tech.

The European Commission has finally unveiled its much-anticipated technological sovereignty package, designed to reduce Europe's dependence on solutions provided by foreign technology companies. The package includes measures covering cloud services, chips, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and digital tools — areas where Europe has for years relied primarily on companies from the United States.

Why now?

Behind the presentation of the plan lies growing concern about Europe's digital independence — particularly after geopolitical tensions have highlighted the risks of keeping critical infrastructure in the hands of foreign companies. Marietje Schaake, a former member of the European Parliament who wrote the book "The Tech Coup", is among those who have long warned that Europe's dependence on US big tech represents a strategic threat.

Can Europe become self-sufficient?

The question of whether Europe is capable of actually breaking away from US big tech is complex. On one hand, European companies and institutions are deeply dependent on platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. On the other hand, Europe's own technology sector still struggles to compete globally in these areas.

Analysts note that achieving technological sovereignty requires both substantial investments in Europe's own solutions and political will to impose stricter requirements on data storage and processing within Europe. The Commission's new package is a step in the right direction, but critics question whether it is ambitious enough.