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Europe’s Tech Leaders Demand Radical Shift Toward Digital Sovereignty

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 17, 2025

A coalition of Europe’s top tech firms and industry groups is urging EU policymakers to take decisive action to reduce reliance on foreign digital infrastructure. In an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and digital chief Henna Virkkunen, over 80 signatories, representing around 100 organizations, call for a bold strategy to foster homegrown digital solutions—from AI and cloud platforms to chips and telecom networks.

A Call For Digital Independence

The letter underscores the need to prioritize European-built alternatives with strong commercial viability. Signatories include industry heavyweights from cloud computing, telecom, defense, and startup ecosystems, all pushing for a shift towards “sovereign digital infrastructure.”

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The push for what some call a “Euro Stack” isn’t new, but geopolitical tensions have heightened urgency. A January report by competition economist Cristina Caffarra outlined the strategy in-depth, and recent industry conferences have seen growing momentum behind the idea.

The turning point? The Munich Security Conference, where U.S. Vice President JD Vance sent a clear message: America’s interests come first. European leaders left the event with no illusions about the fragility of the transatlantic digital alliance. The specter of a U.S. executive order cutting off essential tech services has made European autonomy a pressing issue.

“Imagine Europe without access to search engines, email, or cloud computing. It sounds dystopian, but it’s a real risk,” warns Wolfgang Oels, COO of Ecosia, a Berlin-based search engine and one of the letter’s signatories. “Something similar already happened to Ukraine.”

The “Buy European” Mandate

The coalition’s demands are clear: EU institutions must lead by example, adopting procurement policies that prioritize European-made tech. The goal isn’t exclusionary but rather to create a level playing field where European firms can compete and justify investment.

“Americans buy American, the Chinese buy Chinese, but Europe acts as if neutrality is a virtue,” says Caffarra. “It’s time for a change.”

The letter suggests offering incentives for businesses to switch to local providers—potentially through subsidies or voucher programs. The idea is to make European alternatives competitive, not by shutting out foreign tech, but by ensuring that European firms have a viable market.

Scaling Up Through Collaboration

Beyond funding, the coalition urges the EU to encourage a “pooling and federating” model to help European tech companies scale. This includes common standards, interoperability initiatives, and aggregation of existing assets to strengthen Europe’s position against U.S. cloud giants.

Past initiatives, like the Gaia-X cloud project, failed due to the involvement of American hyperscalers, which diluted its sovereignty ambitions. The new approach seeks to prevent similar missteps.

A Sovereign Infrastructure Fund

To support capital-intensive tech sectors like semiconductors and quantum computing, the letter calls for the creation of a “Sovereign Infrastructure Fund.” Caffarra argues that even modest funding could significantly boost open-source projects and strategic infrastructure.

“Europe’s open-source community is vast and capable. A targeted investment strategy could yield substantial returns,” she says.

Rethinking Europe’s Digital Strategy

Despite past rhetoric on digital sovereignty, the EU’s current approach has been fragmented and ineffective, the coalition argues. Too much funding flows into academic research rather than tangible, market-driven solutions. The signatories push for a more industry-led approach, where funding is directed toward scalable, commercially viable projects.

“Europe can no longer afford to be reactive,” Caffarra asserts. “We need a proactive, industrial strategy that puts digital sovereignty at the heart of economic policy.”

As global competition intensifies and geopolitical risks mount, the message from Europe’s tech leaders is unmistakable: The EU must act decisively, or risk losing control of its digital future.

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Cyprus Leads EU With Highest Per Capita Greenhouse Gas Footprint In 2023

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 20, 2026

Cyprus Tops The Emissions List

New Eurostat data shows that Cyprus recorded the highest per-capita greenhouse gas footprint in the European Union in 2023. The country reported 14.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per person, well above the EU average of 9.0 tonnes. The figures highlight the impact of consumption patterns and imported goods on national emissions.

Overview Of 2023 Emissions Data

According to the report, the greenhouse gas footprint linked to goods and services consumed within the EU averaged 9.0 tonnes per person in 2023, down from 10.0 tonnes in 2022. The consumption-based metric measures emissions generated across entire supply chains, regardless of where production takes place.

Contrasting Emissions Across Member States

Cyprus recorded the highest level at 14.8 tonnes per capita, followed by Ireland at 14.0 tonnes and Luxembourg at 12.7 tonnes. At the lower end of the scale, Portugal reported 6.5 tonnes per capita, with Bulgaria, Sweden, and Romania also recording comparatively low figures. The differences reflect varying consumption patterns and the carbon intensity of imported goods and services.

Consumption Versus Production Emissions

Across the EU, the greenhouse gas footprint tied to consumption reached 4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023, compared with production-based emissions of 3.3 billion tonnes. The gap illustrates how imported goods contribute to overall emissions. Over the past decade, consumption-based emissions declined by 12.9%, while production-based emissions fell by 18.6%, partly influenced by the economic slowdown during the 2020 pandemic.

Implications For Policymakers And Business Leaders

The data suggests that emissions strategies increasingly need to address both domestic production and consumption patterns. For Cyprus, this means looking beyond local energy reforms to examine the carbon footprint of imported products and supply chains. Businesses and policymakers may need to consider broader sustainability measures that reflect how goods are produced and consumed.

As the EU continues to strive for reduced emissions, this report serves as a vital resource. It illustrates the progress in lowering production emissions while drawing attention to the substantial challenge posed by the consumption-based footprint. In the evolving realm of environmental policy, these insights are indispensable for steering future initiatives on a path towards greater sustainability.