Berlin – Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has underlined the urgent need for Europe to strengthen its technological sovereignty, calling for reduced reliance on non-European technology providers and greater investment in home-grown digital infrastructure.
Speaking at the Schwarz Ecosystem Summit, Merz highlighted that Europe must “build and operate its own data centers, advance software development, and ensure digital independence” if it wants to remain competitive and secure in the global digital economy.
According to the Chancellor, Europe’s dependence on major U.S. technology companies poses strategic and economic risks. He argued that developing indigenous technologies and creating strong European alternatives will not only enhance data protection and cyber resilience but also drive innovation and economic growth across the EU.
Merz also pointed out that digital sovereignty is becoming a geopolitical priority, with increasing global competition over data, artificial intelligence, and cloud technologies. He called on both the public and private sectors in Europe to collaborate on large-scale projects that can secure Europe’s position as a leader in digital transformation.
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The announcement reflects the broader policy direction of Merz’s government, which has already launched the Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation (BMDS) earlier this year, tasked with modernising Germany’s digital infrastructure and administrative processes.
Observers say the Chancellor’s remarks are in line with growing European debates on creating a “sovereign cloud” and reducing overdependence on American and Chinese platforms. However, the concrete steps and funding models to achieve this ambitious goal are still being defined.
