Doctrine to Delivery – POLITICO
TL/DR –
The article argues that Europe should seek to strengthen its digital sovereignty via openness and partnerships rather than protectionist policies. The author suggests that trusted European operators should manage encryption, access control, and critical operations within the EU jurisdiction while still allowing access to global technologies. The Berlin summit’s new working group should define levels of data, operational, and technological sovereignty, allowing providers to transparently demonstrate their compliance with these levels.
Europe’s Approach to Sovereignty: Embracing Diversity, Resilience, and Autonomy
Protectionist policies, which may look like an attractive option, could, in fact, erode the foundations Europe is trying to bolster. The old school methods, such as isolationism, import substitution, or cherry-picking winners, will not be the answer for increased competitiveness or security.
Take, for example, the widely discussed US Inflation Reduction Act. The incentives and subsidies offered by this act are available to EU companies, under the condition that they invest locally, foster local talent, and expand within the US market.
The goal here isn’t promoting nationalism—it’s about practicality. Inviting global investments, generating employment, and fostering innovation-led growth are the prime targets.
The Practical Path to Sovereignty
Europe’s approach should be ‘sovereignty done right’—a blend of diversity, resilience, and autonomy knitted into the fabric of its strategies. This includes risk-based precautions, strategic alliances, and investment in European capacities, all the while remaining receptive to worldwide innovation.
Trusted European operators can offer valuable support by managing encryption, access control, and critical operations within the EU jurisdiction, while also enabling managed access to international technologies. ‘Sovereignty washing’ can be evaded by granting eligibility based on thorough, transparent evaluations, rather than imposing blanket prohibitions.
The new working group formed at the Berlin summit should initiate their efforts with a unified EU-wide framework that clearly illustrates levels of data, operational, and technological sovereignty. Providers claiming sovereign services should use this framework to transparently show the levels they satisfy.
Opening the Right Doors
Europe will not achieve sovereignty by closing its doors. The key lies in opening the right doors, and on Europe’s terms. Sovereignty should be a dynamic process, not a defensive one—it should stimulate innovation, ensure prosperity, and safeguard freedoms. As a succinctly put quote reiterates: “Europe’s sovereignty will not come from closing doors. Sovereignty done right will come from opening the right ones, on Europe’s terms.”
By adopting this approach, Europe can build resilience, competitiveness, and true strategic autonomy in a dynamic global digital ecosystem.
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