European Commission initiatives for technological sovereignty

On June 3, 2024, the European Commission introduced a package of measures, including the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), to reduce dependency on non-European technology providers. The framework proposes classifying cloud services based on their independence from foreign ownership and jurisdiction, potentially restricting companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft from sensitive public sector contracts. On June 22, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with leaders of seven major European tech firms—Airbus, Siemens, ASML, Nokia, Ericsson, BMW, and Mistral AI—to discuss the state of AI development in the EU. This follows official reports indicating a significant lag in the sector, noting that only 30 out of 2,900 globally recognized large AI models were created in Europe. Furthermore, data shows that 75% of the world's GPUs are located in the United States and 15% in China. The Commission aims to create reliable European alternatives for critical infrastructure to mitigate strategic vulnerabilities. While not seeking to sever ties with international partners, the EU focuses on achieving greater autonomy in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.