Europe's Digital Sovereignty Strategy: A New Model for Global Digital Governance
European Commissioner Thierry Breton frames the global digital landscape as dominated by four state-controlled digital empires: the US, China, Russia, and Europe. Each follows a distinct model. The US approach is private-led with minimal oversight. China employs state control with mass surveillance and local norms. Russia emphasizes information sovereignty through strict content control. Europe pursues market-based sovereignty rooted in its vast internal market.
Between 2022 and 2024, the EU adopted four pivotal digital laws— the Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Markets Act (DMA), Data Act, and AI Act—aimed at protecting users, businesses, and democracies, while forming a cutting-edge digital governance framework. These laws underpin a broader European strategy combining regulation, investment, sovereign innovation, coordinated action, and talent development.
A key milestone was the Berlin leaders' meeting on digital sovereignty, convened at the joint request of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron. The EU calls for the immediate, unconditional application of its laws to access its internal market, opposing attempts to undermine them via omnibus bills perceived as anti-innovation or driven by external pressures.
Europe plans to localize and certify critical infrastructure by expanding sovereign cloud services, networks, satellites, and semiconductors. Investments focus on AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, data centers, and training more digital experts. The strategy also supports native European platforms and champions to strengthen the digital ecosystem.
To reduce dependence on non-EU jurisdictions, the EU seeks to limit exposure of data to foreign laws such as the US Patriot Act and Cloud Act, and actively promotes open-source solutions. Emphasizing its population of 450 million citizens and an open internal market, the EU prioritizes strong cohesion, transparency, and rule-of-law in its digital framework.
Through this comprehensive approach, Europe aims to match the financial clout of the US and achieve a genuine single capital market, setting global digital standards rather than relying on prototypes.
