Europe's Legislators Take Action: French Senate and Dutch Parliament Champion Digital Independence

For years, a quiet unease has simmered beneath the surface of Europe's digital landscape. The dominance of US tech giants, their control over critical infrastructure, and the implications for data privacy and economic sovereignty were well-known concerns. Yet, despite this awareness, a sense of inertia, a reliance on familiar solutions, and a degree of technological deference prevented truly decisive action. A systemic issue that was almost invisible, and that could almost be ignored.

That era of complacency is over. The re-election of Donald Trump, and the immediate, aggressive shift towards agressive economic and tech policies, has ripped away the veil of normalcy, and has changed everything. The "Trump 2.0" reality goes well beyond a continuation of past tensions; it represents a dramatic escalation, a tenfold increase in the pressure on Europe's sovereignty, exceeding even the most pessimistic forecasts. This new reality demands an immediate and radical response.

Against this backdrop, the recent flurry of motions in the Dutch Parliament and the comprehensive resolution proposal from the French Senate are a direct response to this challenging environment – a recognition that Europe can no longer afford to be a passive observer in the global digital arena. They hopefully represent a broader awakening to the risks of over-reliance on non-European technology and a burgeoning desire to reclaim control over Europe's digital destiny.

From the perspective of the EuroStack Direstory Project (ESDP), these initiatives validate our core belief: that Europe must build a secure, independent, and innovative digital infrastructure based on European values, with Open Source at its heart. Let's examine these developments and how they align with the EuroStack vision.

The Dutch Urgency

The Dutch motions are striking in their directness and immediacy. They represent a "stop the bleeding" approach, focusing on concrete actions the Dutch government can take now to reduce dependence on US Big Tech. The calls to:

• Halt migrations to US cloud services (with only sensible exceptions).
• Prioritize European companies in tenders.
• Develop alternatives to US tech giants.
• Bring the .nl domain DNS chain entirely within the Netherlands.
• Build a sovereign Dutch Government Cloud.
• Perform risk analysis and exit strategies.

…are all music to our ears. These motions resonate deeply with the EuroStack's principles of technological autonomy, vendor neutrality, and data sovereignty. The Dutch are recognizing that reliance on a handful of foreign corporations for critical infrastructure is a strategic vulnerability. They are, in effect, saying, "Enough is enough." This is precisely the kind of bold action our EuroStack Project Manifesto calls for.

The motion to strengthen internal Dutch government IT coordination is also crucial. A fragmented approach is a recipe for failure. Digital sovereignty requires a unified strategy and concerted action.

The French Strategic Vision

The French Senate's resolution proposal takes a broader, more long-term, and EU-wide perspective. It's not just about plugging holes; it's about building a ship – a European ship – capable of navigating the turbulent waters of the digital age.

The French proposal's emphasis on:

• Strict enforcement of existing EU regulations (DSA, DMA, GDPR): This is fundamental. We have always maintained that a strong regulatory framework is necessary, but enforcement is key. The French call for "intransigent" implementation, faster investigations, and even the exploration of service suspensions is exactly the kind of assertive approach needed.
• Strengthening regulatory tools: The proposals for interoperability between all social media interfaces, a specific liability regime for "algorithmic media," and increased involvement of national regulators are all steps in the right direction. These align with our principles of interoperability by design and collaborative governance. The call to explore options for suspending the services of non-compliant platforms is particularly noteworthy.
• Building a European alternative: This is where the French proposal truly shines. The call for "ethical and sovereign" platforms, public support for alternatives, and the "Vigie Europe" network for detecting foreign interference are all crucial elements of a comprehensive strategy. This echoes our vision of a competitive digital ecosystem (point II.2) and its commitment to building on existing European strengths. Specific examples of such platforms would ideally include projects like Mastodon (for decentralized social media) and services listed in the EuroStack Directory (for cloud and other infrastructure).
• Industrial policy and investment: The French recognition of the need for a "voluntary" European industrial policy, particularly in AI, cloud, and quantum computing, is spot-on. Our Manifesto (section VII) calls for sustainable financing and strategic investment in European-grown technologies. The call for a European preference in public procurement is also essential, aligning with the our principle of vendor neutrality and support for SMEs.

Where these Initiatives Align with our Vision

Both the Dutch and French initiatives strongly align with the core tenets of our Vision:

• Digital Sovereignty: Both are fundamentally driven by the need to reclaim control over Europe's digital infrastructure and data.
• Open Source: While not always explicitly mentioned, the spirit of openness and the desire to break free from vendor lock-in are implicit in many of the proposals. We advocate for making this commitment to Open Source explicit and central. The French proposal's call for ethical and sovereign platforms strongly suggests an Open Source approach.
• Interoperability: The French proposal, in particular, champions interoperability as a key principle, aligning perfectly with the our "Interoperability by Design" principle.
• Data Protection: Both initiatives emphasize the importance of data protection and privacy, consistent with the our commitment to GDPR and European values.
• European Collaboration: Both recognize the need for a coordinated European approach.
• Technological Autonomy: Both initiatives, by pushing back the dominance of non-European companies, align with our principle of Technological Autonomy.

A Call to Action – Addressing Counterarguments

These developments are encouraging, but they are just the beginning. We at the EuroStack Directory Project urge both the Netherlands and France – and indeed, all EU member states – to:

1. Embrace Open Source: Make Open Source the default choice for public procurement and digital infrastructure development. "Public Money, Public Code" should be the guiding principle.
2. Invest Strategically: Prioritize investments in European-grown, Open Source technologies that enhance sovereignty and autonomy. Support SMEs and foster a vibrant European digital ecosystem. This includes providing concrete examples of successful European Open Source projects and companies that deserve support.
3. Enforce Interoperability: Mandate open standards and ensure seamless integration of systems and data. This should include legally binding requirements for interoperability, with clear mechanisms for verification and redress, as detailed in the ESDP's position paper on interoperability.
4. Be Bold: Don't be afraid to challenge the status quo and take decisive action to reduce dependence on non-European tech giants.
5. Build, Don't Just Regulate: While regulation is important, it's not enough. Europe needs to actively build its own alternatives, leveraging existing European strengths and fostering a culture of local innovation.
6. Reject the "Trojan Horse": Be wary of initiatives that claim to promote European sovereignty but include the very companies that threaten it. We must learn from the mistakes of Gaia-X.
7. Define Metrics: Establish clear and measurable metrics for assessing progress towards digital sovereignty, including metrics for Open Source adoption, SME participation, and reduced reliance on non-European providers. By 2035, 90% of all software procured by the Commission and the Member States should be Open Source!

We recognize that some may raise concerns about these proposals, for instance arguing that some European alternatives are not yet fully mature. But we can't go one with business as usual. The only way to achieve true digital sovereignty is to invest in and build that capacity now. The long-term benefits of independence and resilience far outweigh the short-term costs. Decentralized systems, by distributing data and control across multiple nodes and providers, are less vulnerable to single points of failure and government pressure.

The EuroStack Directory Project stands ready to collaborate with governments, businesses, researchers, and citizens to build a truly independent and sovereign digital future for Europe. Let us seize this moment of awakening and choose to build, not to surrender. The time for half-measures is over. The time for European digital independence is now. We invite all stakeholders to read the EuroStack open letter and join the EuroStack Initiative in this critical endeavor.