The European Union is waking up to a growing digital vulnerability—its reliance on U.S. tech giants for everything from cloud storage to artificial intelligence. With companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft dominating Europe’s digital infrastructure, political leaders are now pushing for greater “tech sovereignty.”
OVHcloud CEO Benjamin Revcolevschi, once a behind-the-scenes engineer, now finds himself in weekly talks with EU digital ministers. The shift, sparked in part by Donald Trump’s presidency, has raised fears that U.S. tech policy could abruptly threaten European access to essential services and data.
American firms control more than two-thirds of the EU’s cloud market. U.S. platforms also dominate mobile operating systems, AI tools, and social media. For many EU officials, this imbalance is no longer sustainable.
The EU’s new tech commissioner, Henna Virkkunen, is advocating for digital self-sufficiency in critical sectors like AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing. However, the continent lacks the industrial muscle to back its ambitions. Few top-tier tech firms are European, and startups struggle with fragmented regulations and limited capital.
To change course, the European Commission is preparing legislation that may give preference to European providers in public contracts—part of a broader “Buy European” push. Simultaneously, it’s engaging with companies like OVHcloud to reduce dependency on foreign cloud services and create secure, local alternatives.
But Europe’s path is fraught with challenges. Critics warn that without meaningful investment and talent, sovereignty efforts could devolve into mere protectionism. U.S. tech giants are countering with so-called “sovereign cloud” offerings, but many in Brussels remain skeptical, seeing these moves as superficial.
Europe’s Plan: From Dependency to Autonomy
Europe’s strategy goes beyond cloud services. A new legislative package, expected later this year, aims to boost homegrown digital infrastructure—especially in cloud and AI. It may include mandates for EU-based data storage, stricter procurement standards favoring European firms, and investments in next-gen technologies.
Still, political will alone won’t close the gap. Analysts argue that meaningful change will require massive financial commitment, a unified digital market, and long-term investment in tech education and talent. Without that, the bloc risks falling further behind.
As Revcolevschi puts it, the digital realm is no longer just an economic frontier—it’s a matter of sovereignty. And like defence, Europe must prepare for the digital battles of the next 20 years.
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