EU cloud providers join forces to challenge US tech dominance

A coalition of 13 European cloud service providers, together with European Union lawmakers and civil society organizations, has voiced support for the European Commission’s efforts to reduce the bloc’s dependence on US technology companies and strengthen domestic digital industries, Reuters reports.

The backing comes ahead of the European Commission’s expected announcement of new measures aimed at ensuring that European firms, rather than American competitors, provide cloud computing services for sensitive public-sector contracts. The initiative is also expected to include efforts to boost the production of semiconductors manufactured within Europe.

The EU’s drive for greater technological independence is being fueled by growing geopolitical tensions with both the United States and China, as well as a broader ambition to narrow the technological gap with the two global powers in strategic sectors.

In a joint open letter seen by Reuters, the signatories stressed the importance of strengthening Europe’s control over its digital infrastructure.

"Technological sovereignty means that Europe has the capacity to freely design, understand, choose from different home-grown sources, build, operate and effectively regulate the digital systems on which its society and economy rely," the groups said.

Among the companies backing the initiative are French cloud provider OVHcloud, Germany’s Nextcloud, social media platforms Mastodon and Monnet Social, Swiss privacy software company Proton, search engine and browser company Ecosia, and Dutch quantum chip manufacturer QuantWare.

The letter was also signed by lawmakers from the Greens group in the European Parliament, as well as six civil society organizations, including Defend Democracy and Save Social.

European Parliament lawmaker Alexandra Geese underscored the message behind the initiative, stating:

"Our message is simple: Build European, buy European, protect European."

By Vafa Guliyeva