EU urged to build EuroStack for digital sovereignty

The European Council on Foreign Relations policy brief by Giorgos Verdi argues that the EU must build an independent “EuroStack” of technologies—focusing on space, chips, cloud computing and AI—to reduce strategic dependence on US tech and avoid weaponisation of digital infrastructure.

• Main measures proposed: The brief calls for massively increased EU public investment in space (up to €60bn in 2–5 years), a Chips Act 2.0 prioritising mainstream chips, use of DMA gatekeeper designations and a Cloud & AI Development Act to curb US hyperscalers, “buy European” public procurement quotas for cloud, and targets to raise EU AI compute to 5% then 10% of global capacity, alongside support for open‑source AI and a European Chip Design Academy.
• Context and background: The analysis is framed against scenarios of US technology weaponisation under Trump and Biden, including export controls on AI chips, threats to cut Starlink in Ukraine, sanctions-driven shutdowns of US digital services, and US dominance in cloud, AI models, chips and satellite internet; it concludes that Europe should build “just enough” sovereign capabilities, not full autarky, while managing likely American backlash through selective concessions.