The EuroStack Manifesto: a Vision for European Digital Independence

Version: 0.2 (draft)

Date: 2025-01-17

I. Upholding European Values: The Foundation of Our Digital Future

1. European digital infrastructure must reflect and uphold democratic principles, ensuring fairness, accountability, and transparency.
2. Businesses and individuals must have control over their data, fostering trust and enabling new data-driven business models.
3. Inclusivity must be a guiding principle, ensuring access to technology and digital opportunities for all regions and demographics.
4. Transparency in both technology design and governance is essential for building trust and ensuring accountability.
5. Digital systems must be accountable to users and businesses, not solely to large corporations.
6. Sustainability must be a core criterion in evaluating and selecting infrastructure projects, aligning with European environmental goals.
7. European digital infrastructure must avoid replicating surveillance models that undermine privacy and trust.
8. Ethical AI development must prioritize fairness, transparency, and accountability, building trust in AI-powered solutions.
9. Europe must define and promote its ethical digital standards globally, setting a benchmark for responsible technology development.
10. Robust privacy protections are non-negotiable, building trust with customers and ensuring compliance with European regulations.

II. Ambition: Securing Europe's Digital Future for Business

11. Europe must control its critical digital infrastructure to ensure economic competitiveness and digital sovereignty.
12. European-controlled cloud computing, data centers, and identity systems are essential for business stability and growth.
13. Data sovereignty is paramount: European business data must remain under European jurisdiction, ensuring legal certainty and protection.
14. Open Source software is a strategic asset, fostering innovation, reducing vendor lock-in, and enhancing cybersecurity.
15. Interoperability must be a core design principle, enabling seamless data exchange, collaboration, and market expansion.
16. Digital infrastructure must be developed and deployed in line with European values of privacy, security, and fair competition.
17. Public-private partnerships are vital to developing resilient, scalable, and innovative digital ecosystems.
18. Sustainability must guide the development of digital infrastructure, prioritizing energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impact to meet both regulatory and customer expectations.

III. Technological Autonomy and Sovereignty: A Competitive Edge

19. Europe must reduce reliance on non-European tech giants, and, more generally, reduce and counter their influence, to foster a more competitive and diverse digital market.
20. Critical digital infrastructure must be resilient against extraterritorial laws, such as the U.S. CLOUD ACT and FISA, and undue external influence, guaranteeing business continuity.
21. Sovereign digital identities, implemented and controlled within Europe, will streamline business operations and enhance trust.
22. Secure, interoperable, and European-managed payment systems are essential for a thriving digital economy.
23. Data sharing frameworks must balance security with the promotion of innovation, enabling data-driven business models.
24. Europe must lead in creating decentralized, user-controlled digital ecosystems, giving businesses more control and reducing third-party dependencies.
25. Technological sovereignty is the cornerstone of long-term economic and political independence, ensuring a level playing field for European businesses.
26. Strengthening European hardware and software supply chains is crucial for resilience and security.
27. Robust security standards are needed to protect against evolving global cyber threats while upholding user rights and business interests.
28. Investment in European-grown technologies must prioritize sovereignty and strategic autonomy over short-term convenience, ensuring long-term competitiveness.

IV. Open Source and Interoperability: Drivers of Innovation and Growth

29. Open Source solutions offer the transparency and flexibility needed for trust, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.
30. Public funding should prioritize Open Source development, recognizing its strategic value for the European economy.
31. Enforced interoperability standards will ensure seamless integration of systems and data across businesses and sectors.
32. Proprietary solutions that hinder collaboration and create vendor lock-in must be avoided to foster a dynamic and competitive market.
33. Vendor-neutral platforms should be the standard, promoting competition and preventing monopolies.
34. Public procurement policies must enforce open standards, creating a level playing field for businesses of all sizes, and counter the dominance of proprietary solutions.
35. Open collaboration across industries and governments must be the default, fostering innovation and knowledge sharing.
36. Open Source projects must receive sustained funding - not just subsidies but primarily contracts - for maintenance, development, and security, ensuring their long-term viability.
37. Public code must be freely accessible and reusable, maximizing the return on public investment and fostering innovation.

V. Collaboration and Governance: A United European Digital Front

38. Strong coordination among EU member states is essential to avoid fragmentation and ensure a unified approach to digital sovereignty.
39. Public institutions must lead by example in adopting sovereign digital solutions, driving market demand and demonstrating commitment.
40. A clear governance framework for public-private collaborations is needed to ensure transparency, accountability, and fair competition.
41. Europe must foster trust-based relationships in data sharing and technology use, promoting collaboration and innovation.
42. Governance models must be designed to empower businesses of all sizes, particularly SMEs.

VI. Supporting SMEs and Fostering a Dynamic Digital Ecosystem

43. SMEs are the backbone of Europe's digital economy and must be empowered to thrive.
44. Public procurement must prioritize local and SME-driven solutions, creating opportunities for growth and innovation.
45. Investment strategies must address the funding gap faced by European startups and scale-ups, particularly in strategic digital sectors.
46. European digital ecosystems must support a diverse range of businesses, fostering competition and innovation.
47. Local innovation hubs must be nurtured and interconnected across Europe, creating a network of expertise and collaboration.
48. SMEs must be equipped with the tools, resources, and knowledge to compete effectively with global players.
49. Tax incentives should be used to encourage SME participation in digital transformation and the adoption of sovereign solutions.
50. Open Source tools provide SMEs with affordable, flexible, and customizable solutions, reducing barriers to entry.
51. Collaborative platforms must empower SMEs to scale their operations, access new markets, and drive innovation.

VII. Sustainable Financing: Investing in Europe's Digital Future

52. Public and private investment in Open Source projects is essential for their long-term sustainability and development.
53. Public funds must be strategically allocated to maintain and scale existing Open Source solutions that are critical for European digital sovereignty.
54. European institutional investors, such as pension and insurance funds, should prioritize investments in digital sovereignty initiatives.
55. Risk capital and venture funding must bridge the gap between research and commercialization, supporting the growth of European tech companies.
56. Innovative financing models are needed to support SMEs and startups in the digital sector, ensuring access to capital.
57. Procurement policies must allocate contracts to projects that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and long-term value for the European economy and society. To be clear, they should actively disfavor non-European providers if doing so benefits European digital sovereignty, even if it means a slightly higher cost or a less feature-rich solution, initially.
58. Funding decisions must be aligned with long-term strategic goals and include specific targets for reducing dependence on non-European hardware and software. This funding should not flow to projects dominated by non-European companies. , This would ensure that investments contribute to a resilient and competitive digital future.
59. Transparency in funding allocation is critical to ensure accountability and build trust.
60. European grants must prioritize projects that demonstrate scalability, impact, and alignment with European values.
61. Sustainability metrics must be integrated into investment decisions, ensuring that digital infrastructure projects are environmentally responsible.

VIII. Education and Skills: Building a Digital-Ready Workforce

62. Digital skills training must be prioritized to address skill gaps across regions and demographics, ensuring a workforce ready for the digital age.
63. Lifelong learning programs must be adapted to keep pace with rapid technological changes, enabling workers to upskill and reskill.
64. Cross-border initiatives are needed to ensure a unified and highly skilled talent pool across Europe.
65. Collaboration between universities and industry must be strengthened to drive innovation and ensure that education programs are aligned with industry needs.
66. Digital apprenticeships and other work-based learning programs must be expanded to prepare the workforce for emerging technologies.
67. Gender equality in digital skills development must be a priority, ensuring that women have equal opportunities in the digital economy.

IX. Building the EuroStack: A Vision for the Future

68. The EuroStack must be built on principles of modularity, scalability, interoperability, and openness, creating a flexible and adaptable digital infrastructure.
69. Cloud-edge continuum solutions are essential to enable flexibility, autonomy, and efficient data processing.
70. Public money should fund public code, ensuring that publicly funded software is open, transparent, and accountable.
71. Green computing principles must be embedded in the design and operation of the EuroStack, minimizing its environmental footprint.
72. The EuroStack is not just a technology stack but a strategic initiative to secure Europe's digital future, ensuring competitiveness, innovation, and autonomy in the global digital economy.