The European Commission has launched a bold “European Technological Sovereignty Package,” a wide-ranging set of measures aimed at strengthening Europe’s control over semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and open-source technologies.

 

Presented in Brussels, the package signals a strategic pivot: reducing reliance on non-EU suppliers and positioning Europe as a global leader in digital infrastructure.

 

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen framed the initiative in stark terms, saying:

“We cannot afford to depend on others for the technologies that keep our hospitals running, our energy grids stable and our services secure. 

 

"This is about protecting our citizens, defending our interests and making our own choices. Europe has the talent, the research excellence, the industrial base and the Single Market. Together, we must turn these strengths into technological sovereignty.”

 

At the heart of the package are two major legislative proposals: the Chips Act 2.0 and the Cloud and AI Development Act, alongside a new Open Source Strategy and a strategic roadmap for digitalisation and AI in the energy sector.

 

The Commission says the goal is to make Europe an “AI continent,” expand digital autonomy, and ensure European businesses and public services have wider access to critical technologies. The push comes amid rising global competition and Europe’s continued dependence on external suppliers for advanced chips and computing power.

 

Semiconductors remain a central vulnerability. While the existing Chips Act, introduced in 2023, was designed to address supply chain weaknesses, the Commission says Europe still lags in advanced chip design and production. AI-related chips alone are expected to dominate more than 70% of the semiconductor market by 2030.

 

The new Chips Act 2.0 aims to accelerate permitting, deepen partnerships with aligned countries, and boost investment in cutting-edge semiconductor ecosystems linked to AI growth sectors such as data centres and cloud platforms.

 

The Cloud and AI Development Act is designed to dramatically scale Europe’s digital infrastructure, including a plan to triple data centre capacity within five to seven years.

 

It also introduces a single EU-wide framework to assess cloud and AI sovereignty while streamlining rules for building sustainable data centres. The Commission says this will help balance rapid AI expansion with climate goals and energy constraints.

 

The initiative includes new “AI Experience and Acceleration Centres” intended to help member states integrate AI more quickly across public services and industry.

 

Brussels is also leaning heavily on Europe’s open-source ecosystem, which includes more than three million contributors.

 

The Open Source Strategy will expand European alternatives in cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity, and semiconductor tools, while increasing investment in skills and startup support.

 

The Commission also wants greater use of open-source systems in public administrations, backed by procurement reforms and interoperability standards.

 

A separate roadmap addresses the growing intersection of digital infrastructure and Europe’s energy system.

 

As data centres expand rapidly, electricity demand is expected to surge. The Commission aims to integrate digital growth with grid planning, clean energy supply, and efficiency improvements.

 

The roadmap also promotes AI-driven upgrades to Europe’s electricity networks, faster rollout of smart meters, and simplified cross-border energy data sharing to improve efficiency and reduce costs for consumers.

 

EU officials described the package as a structural turning point in how the bloc approaches technology, supply chains, and digital security.

 

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: “We live in a world where geopolitics and technology are inseparable. Those who champion technological innovation will shape the future—and we must ensure that Europe plays a leading role in this. 

 

"Today's package marks a major shift in how Europe approaches technological sovereignty. It is time for Europe to be in control of its data, of its supply chains, and of its future in a clean and sustainable way. We are strengthening Europe’s digital autonomy and resilience while keeping our economy open to partners around the world.”

 

Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen emphasized the scale of the transformation, saying: “We are living through a global digital revolution and a worldwide race to shape the future of artificial intelligence. These technologies are transforming how we live, work, and power our economies. 

 

"Europe must not simply participate in this transformation, it must lead it. But leadership means doing so in a way that reflects our values: responsibly, sustainably, and for the benefit of all consumers and sectors. Our task is clear: to manage the growing energy demands of digitalisation while unlocking the immense opportunities that innovation places within our reach.”

 

The proposals will now be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before becoming law.

 

Further steps are expected soon, including a call for AI “Gigafactories” and new financing mechanisms aimed at scaling Europe’s technology ambitions.

 

The Commission says the package is part of its broader goal of turning Europe into a global AI powerhouse—while ensuring the infrastructure behind it remains under European control.