Will it go as planned? EU seeks to reduce dependence on U.S. Big Tech… to foster European cloud and AI

The European Commission has drafted a tech sovereignty strategy to reduce the EU’s dependence on US software and digital infrastructure.

The plan includes a cloud and AI development law to triple data center capacity within 5 to 7 years, plus faster permitting for new facilities.

It also calls for sovereignty-risk assessments for member states and key industries, and a review of so-called ‘sovereignty washing’ via EU subsidiaries.

The Commission says the push is about strategic autonomy, not protectionism, and could reshape investment in Europe’s cloud and AI sectors.