Follow-up report: Europe’s digital sovereignty – between wishful thinking and reality
On September 30, 2025, interested parties – both on site in Nuremberg and online – gathered for an intensive afternoon to discuss the current state and prospects of Europe’s digital independence. The event was organized by
Robert Zierhofer
and
Matthias Brinkmann
both active members of the Rabbit Hole Group.
The thematic focus & agenda
The discussion round was clearly structured and focused on four central building blocks:
- Europe’s digital dependence today
- European alternatives to US-based tools
- Opportunities & limits of digital independence
- Conclusion: wishful thinking or realistic objective?
The introduction already made it clear how deeply dependent Europe is on US technology – from cloud services and communication tools to operating systems. Robert and Matthias took a critical look at everyday tools in agencies and companies and presented concrete European alternatives. At the same time, there was an open discussion about the hurdles that need to be overcome – politically, economically and technologically.
Highlights & insights
- Several examples showed that many companies and institutions today have little choice but to trust US-based services – often for reasons of market power, distribution or compatibility.
- It was shown that there are already functioning European solutions – albeit often in niches or with a limited degree of maturity.
- The desire for technological independence is legitimate – but without clearly defined support programs, regulation and joint European action, much remains wishful thinking.
The tone was constructive and forward-looking: The debate was dominated by realism rather than pessimism. The hybrid format (on-site + online) was well received and ensured that even remote participants were able to take part. The presentation was inspired, with plenty of impetus – it was not uncommon for people to put their heads together in the direction of implementation.
Conclusion & outlook
The event ruthlessly revealed where Europe stands today – and at the same time showed that digital sovereignty does not have to be pure wishful thinking. But the road to this goal is an arduous one. The decisive factor will be whether politics, business and society set the necessary course: Strategic investments, promotion of European infrastructure, binding standards and a rethink of the choice of tools for society as a whole.
We would like to thank Robert Zierhofer and all participants for this enriching event!
Curious now?
Our contact persons will be happy to help:
Matthias Brinkmann
+49 911 47494949
brinkmann@twobe.de
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