Data4 urges streamlined rules to build sovereign EU data centers

Data4 has announced its role and investment plans to expand sustainable data center infrastructure as a foundation for European digital sovereignty, while calling for regulatory simplification across Europe.

• Data4 plans to invest over €21 billion by 2030 to double its data center capacity across six countries, including a new 180 MW campus in Hanau, Germany, and states that 100% of its electricity is carbon-free, with optimized water use and waste heat recycled for biocircular applications.
• The company urges simplified regulations and special status for data center projects (e.g., France’s Projet d’Intérêt National Majeur (PINM) or equivalents in Europe) to accelerate approvals, support AI and cloud growth, and strengthen European digital sovereignty following commitments made by France and Germany at the Summit on European Digital Sovereignty in Berlin on 18 November 2025.