European Parliament Votes to End Digital Reliance on American Tech Giants
European lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a historic resolution to sever the continent's deep dependency on American technology, the vote took place on January 22 and signals an urgent shift toward digital independence in response to growing geopolitical instability.
US Dominance Sparks Urgent Push for Technological Autonomy
The European Union currently relies on foreign nations for over 80 percent of its digital products and services, this staggering imbalance has fueled fears among officials that the bloc is effectively becoming a digital colony. American corporations including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google currently control 70 percent of the European cloud market, meanwhile domestic providers manage a mere 15 percent share. This vulnerability was exacerbated by the US CLOUD Act, a law that allows American intelligence agencies to access data stored by US firms regardless of where the physical servers are located. Recent political shifts in Washington have further convinced EU leaders that the United States is no longer a predictable partner, the need for a sovereign strategy has arguably never been greater.
Lawmakers Mandate Creation of Sovereign Eurostack Infrastructure
Parliament members voted 471 to 68 in favor of the new strategy, this rare cross-party consensus illustrates the severity of the situation. The resolution formally calls for the immediate development of a "Eurostack," this initiative aims to build a foundational layer of European public digital infrastructure that spans semiconductors, software, and artificial intelligence. The plan prioritizes open standards to ensure that European nations own their technological architecture rather than renting it from foreign entities.
Rejection of Foreign Jurisdictional Control
Major tech giants have attempted to offer sovereign cloud solutions to appease European regulators, however company representatives admitted in hearings that they cannot legally guarantee immunity from US government data requests. Renew Europe MEP Michał Kobosko warned that without local infrastructure the region risks permanent subservience, the new policy rejects these partial measures in favor of complete architectural control. The resolution emphasizes that data residency on European soil is insufficient if the infrastructure remains under American jurisdiction.
Shift to Sovereign Procurement May Trigger Trade Conflicts
This strategic pivot marks a transition from free market procurement to sovereign procurement, government contracts will increasingly mandate the use of European-only providers to avoid vendor lock-in. Analysts warn this move could trigger retaliatory tariffs from Washington on European luxury goods or automobiles, the economic implications of this decoupling are vast. Experts estimate that building a competitive alternative to Silicon Valley will require at least 10 to 15 years of sustained investment, the path forward involves significant financial and diplomatic risks for member states.
The European Commission is expected to unveil the AI and Cloud Development Act in March 2026, this legislation will likely include substantial funding to accelerate local innovation and secure the continent's digital future.
