Delivering Europe’s Technological Sovereignty

Europe stands at a critical moment for its technological sovereignty. The coming policy choices will reveal whether the European Union can turn political ambition into tangible technological and industrial capacity, or whether sovereignty risks remaining largely aspirational. In view of the upcoming EU Tech Sovereignty Package, this debate provides a timely opportunity to assess the direction now being set and its potential to deliver concrete results in the real economy.

The discussion will centre on whether Europe is putting in place the technological foundations needed to remain competitive, resilient and strategically autonomous. AI, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity have become core pillars of economic performance and security, shaping how firms innovate, scale and compete. For European companies — and especially for SMEs — access to trusted, competitive technological infrastructure is no longer optional, but a basic condition for growth and participation in global value chains.

Despite an increasingly ambitious policy agenda, a persistent implementation gap remains. Fragmented markets, cumulative regulatory burdens, skills shortages and continued dependence on non-European providers continue to limit the deployment and scaling of European technologies. The debate will therefore examine whether current initiatives are designed to overcome these structural barriers or risk adding further layers of complexity.

More broadly, the debate will place technological sovereignty within the EU’s evolving industrial and geopolitical context. At a time of intensifying global competition and growing security challenges, the central question is whether Europe’s approach is capable of delivering lasting competitiveness and technological leadership. The debate will feature Commissioner Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.