In anticipation of the Franco-German summit on November 18, four European CIO associations (Beltug, Cigref, CIO Platform Nederland, and VOICE) issued a joint statement on digital strategic autonomy and European sovereignty.

The call focuses on strengthening Europe’s digital industry and reducing dependence on non-European suppliers, a market estimated at 264 billion euros in 2025, which could grow to 500 billion by 2032 without intervention.

The statement contains seven key points:

• Regulatory simplification: harmonization of digital legislation and a genuine European Digital Single Market.
• European preference in procurement: strategic stimulus for local technology.
• Sovereign cloud: investment in secure European cloud infrastructure and revision of the Cybersecurity Act.
• Strict enforcement of competition rules: also concerning dominant market players.
• Trusted AI: governance, data protection, and IP rights.
• Digital commons: development of open-source solutions via EDIC.
• Digital identity: an identity for all EU citizens with a high level of reliability.

The four organizations emphasize that digital sovereignty must be a political priority to ensure Europe’s competitiveness and innovation.

Read the full statement (PDF).