Europe Speeds Shift From US Big Tech as EU Unveils Long-Term Sovereignty Plan
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Jun 8
Europe Speeds Shift From US Big Tech as EU Unveils Long-Term Sovereignty Plan
2 articles · Updated · WIRED · Jun 8
Summary
The European Commission last week rolled out a long-term plan to cut reliance on US technology, as governments, parliaments, schools and NGOs across Europe accelerate switches to local or open-source tools.
Dozens of public moves tracked by WIRED span core systems: the European Parliament changed its default search from Google to France’s Qwant, while thousands of French government workers now use the homegrown LaSuite office suite.
The push is also reaching infrastructure. The Dutch government is moving code off Microsoft-owned GitHub, Finland reportedly kept election data off Amazon cloud services, and Belgium’s .be domain operator plans to leave AWS.
Trump administration policies, including sanctions tied to the International Criminal Court, have sharpened concerns over data control, the US CLOUD Act and FISA, and Big Tech’s closeness to Washington.
Europe still depends heavily on US firms across cloud, AI, cybersecurity and mobile systems, making a full break unlikely even as digital-sovereignty efforts gather political momentum.
As Europe shuns US tech, will its homegrown alternatives innovate or fall behind in the global technology race?
Can Europe's quest for 'digital sovereignty' create true tech rivals, or will it simply build a digital wall around the continent?
Europe’s Tech Sovereignty Package 2026: How the EU Plans to Double Chip Market Share and Lead in AI
Overview
On June 3, 2026, the European Commission unveiled the Tech Sovereignty Package, a major initiative to strengthen the EU’s digital capabilities in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and open source technologies. The package’s main goals are to boost Europe’s digital autonomy, reduce reliance on external technology providers—especially U.S. Big Tech—and position the EU as a leader in digital innovation. Building on existing strategies like the Competitiveness Compass and Economic Security Strategy, the package is organized around four key areas, each supported by targeted legislative and strategic measures to accelerate Europe’s digital transformation.