Europe has been discussing the need for digital sovereignty, but real progress has been slow. While regulation such as the Digital Markets Act and the AI Act reflected a political direction, Europe still depends on a handful of overseas technology providers for most of its core digital infrastructure. The EuroStack Initiative Foundation aims to join other initiatives with a strong bias for action.
To kick things off, the (non-profit) EuroStack Initiative Foundation e.V. has a number of European tech business leaders on the initial Board – including Wolfgang Oels (Ecosia), Andy Yen (Proton), Yann Lechelle (Probabl), Frank Karlitschek (Nextcloud), Stefane Fermigier (Abilian), Fred Plais (Upsun) and is supported by multiple others. It will serve as a hub for coordinated collaboration between public and private actors to strengthen Europe’s digital ecosystem. Cristina Caffarra, Acting Chair of the Foundation Board, described the initiative as “a pragmatic response to a political and industrial challenge. We need less talk about principles and more cooperation on how to build the infrastructure that reduces Europe’s dependencies.”
The foundation’s work will focus on three main areas, implementing the main pillars: Buy European, Sell European and Fund European. This means connecting European tech businesses to develop products customers need, simplifying procurement and promoting investment.
“Digital sovereignty starts where people actually use the technology. The goal is not to create something entirely new, but to make what we already have work together and easy to adopt. The foundation will bring together public and private actors with industry and economic experts to further digitally sovereignty in Europe.”
Frank Karlitschek, CEO Nextcloud
One of the foundations core ambitions is to provide impetus for action in a field increasingly crowded with vague declamatory talk. We are under siege from “sovereignty-washing” – projects that weaponise the language of independence while relying on non-European infrastructure. We have already shared our views (“the “Buy European” paper) on what criteria would need to be met.
“We designed our ‘Buy European‘ framework as the antidote to sovereignty washing. It replaces vague trust labels with a concrete, multidimensional definition of a sovereign provider—one that is accountable to EU law, offers freedom from technological lock-in, and contributes to our economic ecosystem.“
Stefane Fermigier, Abilian
This also includes the development of a future EuroStack Certification – a framework to recognize technologies and infrastructures that truly reflect Europe’s principles of openness, interoperability and independence.
“If we want trust and adoption, we need transparency. A clear, credible certification process could help public and private actors identify truly sovereign solutions and strengthen European providers in the long term.”
Wolfgang Oels, Ecosia
Buy European, Sell European, Fund European
The EuroStack Initiative is acutely aware that commercial products carried out by industry are the only ones that can make sovereignty an economic reality. Discussions around “our principles” and “our values” do not create economic incentives. By promoting the principles of “Buy European, Sell European, Fund European”, the foundation will encourage investment into European providers. It also seeks to simplify the often complex procurement processes that currently disadvantage smaller, innovative players.
Europe’s private wealth and institutional funds need to the primary engine for building the EuroStack. Existing public funding programs need unlock private capital at scale, bridge gaps where commercial funding does not suffice and embrace an investment logic that accounts for a “sovereignty dividend”. We are in discussions to promote this.
“Europe has world-class innovators. What we lack is coordination and the willingness to prioritize our own ecosystem. EuroStack can help create that missing link between policy, market and technology.”
Cristina Caffarra
Strengthening Europe’s capabilities is what matters
Digital sovereignty requires more than digital infrastructure – it needs the capacity to act independently. The Foundation will foster further research, education and collaboration aiming to support sustainable growth and strategic independence from non-European suppliers. The Foundation will promote science and research as well as education and vocational training in the digital economy.
Through publications, advocacy and public visibility it aims to raise awareness and understanding of digital sovereignty among policymakers, academia, economy and the public.
More to come…
What begun as a collaboration among a few like-minded pioneers has grown into a broader movement – bringing together hundreds of companies that share the goal of strengthening Europe’s technological independence. The Foundation’s work will focus on tangible outcomes: interoperable technology, reliable procurement frameworks, rising awareness, and stronger ties between European innovators.
Over the coming months, the foundation will implement its governance model, define its membership program and expand working groups focused on integration, procurement and communication. While the vision is long-term, the first steps are pragmatic – connecting, testing and showcasing what European cooperation can achieve. The establishment of the EuroStack Initiative Foundation sends a clear signal: digital sovereignty is not a political slogan, but a technical, economic and cultural project that requires consistent collaboration across Europe.
