The EU Has Set a Course Toward Strengthening Its Technological Autonomy

The European Commission has unveiled a comprehensive package of measures on technological sovereignty aimed at phasing out foreign suppliers from the Bloc’s critical digital infrastructure. According to Brussels’ estimates, implementing these plans will require at least EUR 320 billion in investment over the next decade.

The package covers several areas simultaneously. By 2036, the Bloc plans to allocate approximately EUR 200 billion to build data centers for cloud services and artificial intelligence. Separately, by 2035, EUR 120 billion is earmarked for the semiconductor sector, including the creation of its own state-of-the-art chip manufacturing complex.

The legislative part of the package includes two key acts: the Cloud and AI Development Act and the Chips Act 2.0, as well as an updated open-source software strategy and a roadmap for the digitalization of the energy sector.

The European Commission is not proposing a complete ban on foreign cloud platforms, but intends to identify sensitive areas of public administration whose data must be stored exclusively on European infrastructure. Besides, Brussels intends to reserve two-thirds of satellite communication frequencies for European operators, effectively pushing foreign players out of this strategic resource.

For artificial intelligence developers, the European Commission promises to simplify regulatory procedures within the framework of the existing AI Act and to speed up the development of training centers for proprietary models.