[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] The European Union has unveiled a new regulatory package to raise self-reliance within the bloc in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and cloud services. It aims to reduce dependence on U.S. and Chinese technology companies and bring control of key digital infrastructure inside Europe.

CNBC reported on June 3 that the European Commission announced measures to strengthen digital sovereignty, including expanding advanced semiconductor production and fostering Europe’s cloud industry.

The proposal focuses on fixing a structure in which critical infrastructure such as hospitals, energy networks and public services is overly dependent on foreign technology companies. It must be approved by the EU’s 27 member states to be implemented.

The move comes as Europe has a high level of external dependence on technology. U.S. companies dominate Europe’s cloud market, and many major digital services also rely heavily on non-European companies. As geopolitical competition centred on the United States and China has intensified, calls within Europe have grown to place core technologies and data infrastructure under domestic control.

The policy covers reducing reliance not only on U.S. firms but also on Chinese technology and services. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, "We cannot afford to depend on other countries for the technology that runs our hospitals, keeps our energy networks going and protects key services." The remarks are interpreted as showing the EU’s view of digital infrastructure as a security and strategic asset, beyond technological competitiveness.

The package also aligns with recent changes in EU cloud policy. The EU has been considering measures to limit the use of U.S. cloud providers when member-state governments handle sensitive data. The proposal is also seen as pushing to institutionalise a direction that prioritises supply chains within Europe in handling core data and running public services.

Support measures for semiconductors and AI are in the same context. The EU sees a need to expand advanced semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and strengthen the foundations for the growth of AI companies within the bloc. Bundling cloud, AI and semiconductors into a single policy package shows a goal of securing digital sovereignty, beyond simply promoting industry.

The EU judges that without securing core technologies on its own, not only industrial competitiveness but also the operation of public services and national security could be affected by external variables.

Industry sources see the policy as potentially having a significant impact on the structure of Europe’s cloud and digital services markets, which are now centred on U.S. companies, if it is implemented. The possibility has been raised that preferential policies for European companies could be strengthened in government data processing and the operation of public infrastructure.

Key points to watch will be the process of reaching agreement among member states and the actual level of regulation. A central task is how far the EU can go beyond a declaration of technological self-reliance and implement concrete support measures to expand semiconductor production, foster a domestic cloud ecosystem and secure AI competitiveness.

Experts assess the move as part of a long-term strategy for Europe to build an independent digital ecosystem amid a global competition for technological dominance being reshaped around the United States and China.