🏛️ EU ministers push for digital sovereignty reforms ahead of summit

Oneliner

Ahead of a European digital summit in Berlin, ministers from Germany and France are advocating for reforms to enhance digital sovereignty. They emphasize the need for a sovereign European cloud and address regulatory barriers that hinder innovation. Concerns over external influences on democracy, particularly from foreign social media platforms, were also raised. Additionally, the Future Combat Air System project faces challenges in Franco-German cooperation, highlighting the complexities of achieving technological independence in Europe.

Key points

• Ministers from Germany and France advocate for a sovereign European cloud.
• The Berlin summit aims to address funding and regulatory barriers in digital infrastructure.
• Concerns over external influences on European democracy are highlighted.
• The Future Combat Air System project faces challenges amid Franco-German cooperation.

Links

• Handelsblatt: Deutschland und Frankreich: Minister fordern mehr Souveränität
• Politico: Anatomy of a Franco-German tech misfire
• Financial Times: Europe needs to act now on its metals vulnerability
• Handelsblatt: Digitalgipfel: Techbranche und BDI fordern vor Gipfel mehr Reformtempo
• Financial Times: Berlin and Paris discuss scrapping planned joint fighter and focusing on air 'combat cloud'

Facts

• The summit will gather heads of government, EU commissioners, and industry leaders.
• French Minister Barrot emphasizes the need for a sovereign European cloud.
• Regulatory barriers within the single market hinder company growth.
• Concerns over foreign social media platforms impacting European democracy were highlighted.

Quotes

• I think it is very important that we work on a sovereign European cloud. Looking at our dependencies on other actors, this, in my view, is a key factor. — Jean-Noël Barrot
• If we want sovereignty in our sensitive infrastructure, then we must be clear: it will not be cheaper, but more expensive. — Volker Wissing

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