At a time when digital technology is becoming a key driver of economic power and technological innovation, the European Union (EU) is strongly asserting its ambition to build digital sovereignty on an international scale. It wants to strengthen its strategic autonomy and competitiveness, particularly in relation to global giants such as the United States and China. This ambition is reflected in a set of measures and strategies championed by the European Commission. In 2023 and 2024, two reports were published: the Draghi report and the Letta report. Both highlight the importance of investing heavily in the digital market. The European Union is developing a robust regulatory framework, including the Digital Markets Act, the Digital Services Act, and the Data Act, which aim to regulate the digital market and protect users. Recently, important initiatives, such as the White Paper and the Digital Network Act, are underway to modernise telecommunications infrastructure and harmonise spectrum management, with the support of figures like Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner-designate for Technological Sovereignty, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
However, behind this apparent momentum lies a fundamental contradiction. The joint project is being carried out in an ecosystem that remains fragmented, where the dissonance between national regulations, the caution of competition authorities, and the absence of a truly integrated market are hindering the emergence of competitive European players. The European Union is in a situation in which the political orientations decided at the European level conflict with the national priorities and particular interests of Member States, creating a permanent tension between the aspiration for European unification and the defence of national interests. Furthermore, plans for massive investment often run up against stricter regulatory requirements, creating a paradox between the desired economic attractiveness and the regulatory constraints.
Ultimately, the European Union has ambitions for digital sovereignty, but a complex reality hampers these ambitions. While the objectives are clearly defined and the tools have been created, the central question remains: will European political will be sufficient to transform these aspirations into concrete actions?