Today, we simply rely on non-EU providers for over than 80% of our digital products, services,

and infrastructure. And this has to change.

Hannah Verkunen, the EU's tech commissioner, didn't name Amazon, Microsoft, or Google in her opening remarks.

She didn't name the United States.

But it was hard not to hear them in the background as she presented what's been cast as the tech sovereignty package this week.

Because this package is about a very simple worry.

Europe runs on technology it doesn't control.

Over 80% of the digital plumbing behind the EU's economy and public life is foreign.

Mostly American.

For years, Brussels' answer to U.S. big tech has been regulation.

Now the Commission says that's not enough.

Europe also needs to build, buy, and support its own technology.

And Donald Trump has made that feel a lot more urgent.

With his threats, his pressure on allies, his tech billionaire entourage, and his willingness to turn U.S. economic power into a weapon,

Europe could no longer dodge the possibility that Washington might one day pull the plug on the tech Europe runs on every day.

Think schools, banks, hospitals, ministries, businesses, even security, all cut off.

The package for Coonan unveiled, carefully worded not to draw Trump's ire, bring some new ideas

and tools. But let's be real here. Does digital sovereignty actually mean independence from the U.S.?

Or just a better way of managing dependence?

Can Europe really detox from American big tech after decades of falling behind?

Has Europe finally understood that software is hard power?

I'm Sarah Wheaton, hosted the Brussels Playbook Weekender.

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