A progressive roadmap for expanding European digital sovereignty

Every economic, social and political interaction today relies on digital technologies that are disproportionately provided by companies from the USA and China. As recognised by the European Parliament, there is an urgency to produce an alternative that overcomes the severe reduction of (digital) sovereignty for both states and people. Will Europe continue to rely on digital infrastructures dominated by US and China’s Big Tech companies or build its own democratic, public-led systems that serve the people and the planet?

The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) organised an expert meeting on 2 September 2025 between 14:15 and 15:15 at the European Parliament with members of the Digital Europe Working Group to present Cecilia Rikap’s policy brief “A progressive roadmap for expanding European digital sovereignty”.

Member states and EU institutions alike are implementing initiatives intended to foster digital sovereignty, and significant public resources are being mobilised to fund these projects. With this policy brief presentation, FEPS and FES wanted to advance a progressive and public-centred vision of digital sovereignty in the political and public discourse, offering a counterweight to the dominant, market-centred narrative.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Monty Aal, FEPS Digital Policy Analyst (monty.aal@feps-europe.eu) or Vanessa Zwisele, FEPS Project Officer (vanessa.zwisele@feps-europe.eu).