The European Tech sovereignty debate keeps getting this simple premise wrong 05.05.2026

The article critiques Europe's approach to tech sovereignty, arguing that simply building "European" corporate alternatives to Big Tech misses the core issue of infrastructure enclosure. While computation is universal, infrastructure ownership can be used for coercion, as seen with dominant platforms like Nvidia, Google, and AWS controlling key layers. Europe's current "Buy European" strategy, exemplified by initiatives like Eurostack, paradoxically risks replicating the same proprietary models it seeks to escape, confusing a healthier vendor market with true independence. The author contends that sovereignty requires designing infrastructure to resist capture by default—through open interfaces, forking rights, and governance—not just replacing foreign owners with domestic ones. The upcoming EU Cloud and AI Development Act will test this understanding.















