EU need for 'digital sovereignty' does not mean protectionism

Europe must strengthen its own digital infrastructure to lessen reliance on U.S. providers, though this should not mean cutting ties with them entirely, Germany’s Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger told Reuters.

Some Europeans, unsettled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies aimed at advancing American interests, have begun exploring alternatives to the digital ecosystem long dominated by U.S. technology giants.

To achieve true digital sovereignty, Germany and the European Union must “actively participate in this sector as players,” rather than merely acting as customers, Wildberger said in an interview this week.

“There is an enormous growth market for technology, innovation, software, data and artificial intelligence,” he noted, highlighting European firms such as Mistral AI, DeepL and Aleph Alpha as examples of global success stories.

However, Wildberger acknowledged that U.S. companies remain significantly ahead in key areas like artificial intelligence, meaning they will continue to be important partners as Germany develops its own business models.

“Digital sovereignty does not mean protectionism. We want to, and must, remain open to the global market,” he said.

Addressing concerns that President Trump might abruptly curtail transatlantic cooperation, Wildberger added that “U.S. companies naturally remain keen to conduct business overseas.”

Nonetheless, he stressed that German firms must be able to choose between different options — such as where their data is stored and who operates the underlying infrastructure.

Achieving digital sovereignty, he added, also requires rethinking a complex and lengthy supply chain that spans everything from rare earth materials and chip design to servers and fibre-optic cables.

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