The European Commission presented the package on 3 June 2026, and the European Parliament debated it during its plenary session in Strasbourg on 16 June. EU Vice-President Henna Virkkunen stressed that Europe must secure digital independence and establish long-term technological leadership. US sanctions against International Criminal (ICC) Court Judges and the US export ban on high-performance Anthropic AI models highlight the risks of the current dependence. The European Parliament generally welcomed the Package; however, politicians across the political spectrum emphasised that consistent implementation and sufficient investment are now crucial.

New legislative proposals for semiconductors and artificial intelligence

The Chips Act 2.0  builds on the 2023 Chips Act and is intended to further boost Europe’s chip production and reduce strategic dependence. Despite progress since 2023 and clear strengths in standard chips, the EU remains highly dependent on third countries for advanced manufacturing equipment and chip design. The Chips Act 2.0 is therefore intended to expand Europe’s capacity in advanced semiconductor technologies for AI applications. It aims to speed up authorisation procedures, strengthen cooperation with partners and introduce a Seal of Excellence for European semiconductors. The proposal also aims to strengthen links between European chipmakers and their customers while supporting investment and strategic projects. By spring 2027, the European Commission will develop an EU semiconductor crisis management framework outlining clear procedures and responsibilities for supply chain disruptions.

The Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) forms part of the AI Continent Action Plan, through which the EU aims to strengthen its competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence. The initiative aims to meet the growing demand for computing capacity, cloud infrastructure and data centres. The CADA focuses on three key areas: promoting research, development and innovation in cloud and AI sectors; expanding European computing and cloud capacities; and strengthening the EU’s technological sovereignty. To achieve this, the deployment of cloud and AI solutions in critical sectors is to be accelerated and European innovation specifically promoted.

Strategies for technological sovereignty and sustainable energy

The EU Open Source Strategy pursues the objectives of technological sovereignty, the creation of a vibrant open source ecosystem, the use of open source in public administration, and reinforced standards and international outreach. Using European open-source alternatives currently presents structural challenges, which are to be addressed through stronger coordination, improved funding mechanisms and better governance frameworks. The strategy adopts a full life-cycle approach, covering the entire chain from research and development to market launch and beyond. Key areas of implementation include the promotion of open source solutions in key sectors such as the EU Digital Identity ecosystem, and the development of shared digital infrastructure with Member States.

The Strategic roadmap for digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) in the energy sector is intended to accelerate the uptake of digital and AI solutions in areas that are crucial for decarbonisation. These include improving energy efficiency in industry, increasing demand flexibility, reducing household energy costs and optimising the electricity grid as a whole. To integrate data centres sustainably into the energy system, the Commission plans to develop an EU model for tripartite agreements between data centre operators, the energy sector and the relevant authorities. The aim is to bring together network operators and research institutes to develop a pan-European AI model for electricity grids. In addition, measures are planned to improve managing cybersecurity risks, particularly in the area of digital infrastructure for solar and wind energy generation.

A generally positive mood, but calls for consistent implementation

Overall, the vision of European technological sovereignty is viewed positively, although there is some criticism regarding its implementation. IndustriAll Europe, the umbrella organisation for European industrial trade unions, calls for public funding to be subject to clear conditions, so that investments safeguard the entire value chain and fair conditions for workers in Europe. MEP Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D) welcomes the fact that European cloud solutions are to be given targeted preference - at least in the case of sensitive public procurement contracts - to strengthen security and competitiveness. However, her colleague Alexandra Geese (Greens/EFA) criticises the fact that the tech sovereignty package as a whole lacks, “among other things, clear guidelines for European solutions in public tenders,” and stresses that CADA must not “become a free pass for more and more data centres without clear sustainability rules.”

Further information

EU Commission: Commission proposes tech sovereignty package to strengthen Europe's digital autonomy and resilience
AK EUROPA: Strengthening the semiconductor industry: EU Commission proposes Chips Act
AK EUROPA: Linking EU funding to social criteria. What options are there?
AK EUROPA: EU-US trade relations. An unequal ‘deal’ sets the direction
AK EUROPA: The Industrial Accelerator Act. A new approach to strengthening European industry
AK EUROPA: Fossil energy crisis. The EU Commission is focusing on coordination, short-term price relief and the energy transition