More than 90 European technology companies, including industry giants like Airbus and Dassault Systèmes, have sent an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. In the letter, they call on the European Union to increase government investments in technology and propose the creation of a national infrastructure fund for this purpose.
The main goal of this initiative is to safeguard Europe’s strategic independence and reduce foreign dependence in critical technological sectors. The companies warn that if the EU continues to rely on foreign technologies, it will increase security and reliability risks, slow economic development, and weaken regional sovereignty. The letter emphasizes that Europe’s technological independence should not be limited to digital technologies such as software, online platforms, and artificial intelligence models. It should also encompass physical infrastructure, including chip production, cloud storage systems, and fiber-optic communication networks. The companies stress the need for government support to ensure Europe's technological sovereignty. In capital-intensive sectors such as quantum technologies, chip production, and artificial intelligence, the government is encouraged to provide funding and incentivizing programs. A national infrastructure fund should be established to directly finance strategic technologies.
The letter also suggests that European governments adopt a "Buy European" policy, which would prioritize European-made technologies and products in government procurement and public contracts. Such an approach would help increase market share for local companies, stimulate new technological innovations, and strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness.
The companies signing the letter highlight several serious issues caused by Europe’s dependency on foreign technologies:
National security risks: Reliance on foreign companies puts the security of critical infrastructures at risk.
Economic vulnerability: The weakening of local production slows down regional technological development and increases reliance on foreign markets.
Erosion of sovereignty: Control over essential technologies being in the hands of foreign companies weakens Europe’s political and economic independence.
The companies argue that the solution to these problems lies in creating a large-scale investment fund at the national level and providing long-term support to local technology sectors. Implementing this initiative will not only increase Europe's competitiveness in the technological field but also ensure its economic and political independence.
