EU Commission unveils tech sovereignty package to boost digital autonomy

The European Commission has presented a legislative package aimed at strengthening the EU’s digital resilience and technological independence. The proposal includes two major legislative acts: a revised Chip Act (referred to as “Chip Act 2.0”) that expands permitting procedures, supports strategic investments and secures semiconductor supply chains, and a Cloud and Artificial Intelligence Act that seeks to triple the processing capacity of European data centres and promote open‑source solutions in AI, cybersecurity and semiconductor research. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that “we cannot afford to rely on others for the technologies that keep our hospitals, energy networks and services running,” underscoring the drive to protect citizens, safeguard critical infrastructure and enable autonomous decision‑making. The package also outlines a strategy for open‑source software and a coordinated plan to integrate digital infrastructure with the EU’s energy system, aiming to foster home‑grown AI models and reduce dependence on non‑EU providers.