Calls for greater European digital sovereignty have multiplied since Donald Trump's return to the White House. The American president (and his vice president) make no secret of his animosity toward the old continent and its fussy regulations. Microsoft has also been keen to reassure its European customers, but concerns remain. A reflection on the "international digital strategy for Europe" has begun within the Commission, which must submit its report on June 4.
Few new solutions to create a "Eurostack"
A draft, dated April 9 and intercepted by Politico, will probably not satisfy the proponents of a total decoupling with American technologies: as it stands, it is simply "unrealistic" according to the document. Access by American authorities to data stored in Europe, particularly via Amazon, Google and Microsoft, is increasingly raising fears of the worst, but cooperation with the United States will remain "significant across the entire technological value chain," the text admits.
The strategy focuses primarily on alliances with countries that share the same values: Japan, South Korea and India, to collaborate in the fields of semiconductors, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Europe does intend to build AI data centers on its territory, but it is also considering data centers specialized outside the Union for the benefit of its industry. This would involve partnerships and investments abroad.
Regarding China, with which relations are infinitely more complex, the draft emphasizes the need for the EU to preserve its leadership in "secure and reliable" 5G networks. In other words: Huawei will still not be able to equip network infrastructure in Europe. This strategy of preserving leadership could also extend to submarine cables, which are increasingly being targeted by hostile countries.
While the idea of a "Eurostack," in other words a sovereign digital infrastructure, is gaining ground, for the moment it is just that: an idea.
Source: Politico
0 Comments