The EU Commission presented its Technological Sovereignty Package this week, in a bid to reduce its dependence on external suppliers.
However, despite the bloc’s ambitious push, the US-dominated Big Tech industry is expected to maintain its leading position — while the EU also faces the risk of potential economic backlash from China.
As Europe remains heavily dependent on foreign-owned digital platforms and infrastructure, with over 80 percent of essential digital services relying on non-European providers, the commission wants to remedy the strategic vulnerabilities that affect security, competitiveness, data protection and resilience.
At the heart of the package is not only an understanding of the need for free communication that can be done confidentially and without fear of foreign interference, but also a way of pushing for the continent’s so-called strategic autonomy and economic security.
“This is about protecting our citizens, defending our interests and making our own choices,” said commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.
