The EuroStack initiative is a transformative effort to set up Europe as a leader in digital sovereignty, reducing its reliance on foreign technologies, particularly from the U.S. and China, which supply over 80% of Europe’s digital infrastructure [1]. Launched in September 2024 with cross-party support in the European Parliament, EuroStack is a comprehensive industrial policy framework that integrates technology, financing, governance, and sustainability to create a resilient, values-driven digital ecosystem [2].

A cornerstone of this initiative is the Tech Sovereignty Catalogue, announced by the European DIGITAL SME Alliance in June 2025, which maps European-owned digital solutions across critical layers like connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity, data infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI) [3]. This article explores EuroStack and its catalogue, their purposes, and their focus on cybersecurity and data infrastructure, using real-world examples to give detailed insights for readers with basic knowledge of the topic as of July 25, 2025.

What is the EuroStack Initiative?

EuroStack aims to build a sovereign digital infrastructure to enhance Europe’s competitiveness and autonomy. As Francesca Bria, a lead author of the EuroStack report, states, “The Catalogue is a concrete step toward building a sovereign, interoperable, and resilient European tech stack” [3]. Presently, 70% of global foundational AI models are U.S.-based, and European firms contribute only 7% to global software research spending [1]. EuroStack addresses this through a €300 billion investment plan over a decade, starting with a €10 billion European Technology Fund to support innovation in semiconductors, cloud, IoT, and AI [2]. It promotes interoperable platforms, open-source solutions, and federated data spaces, aligning with EU values like privacy and sustainability, and envisions a digital single market to counter Big Tech dominance, with companies like AWS and Microsoft controlling 70% of Europe’s cloud market [4].

The Tech Sovereignty Catalogue: Purpose and Functionality

The Tech Sovereignty Catalogue, as outlined in the latest press release from the European DIGITAL SME Alliance, is a dynamic registry of EU-based digital solutions that supports EuroStack’s vision [3]. “The Catalogue promises to be a guiding light through this pathway, offering concrete solutions at all layers of the tech stack,” says Andrea Renda of CEPS [3]. It evaluates solutions using a 3C framework (Capabilities, Capacities, Control), ensuring they are EU-headquartered, majority-controlled, technologically mature, and relevant to the digital stack [3]. Its key purposes include:

• Procurement Facilitation: It provides a tool for public and private buyers to find interoperable, sovereign-by-design solutions, enabling online marketplaces for collaborative scaling [3].
• Policy and Investment Guidance: By mapping strengths and gaps, it informs funding, standardization, and policy decisions, particularly in cybersecurity and data infrastructure [3].
• Reducing Dependencies: It highlights alternatives to foreign tech, fostering strategic autonomy [2].

The catalogue, supported by a High-level Advisory Board and Expert Assessors, ensures real-world relevance and encourages submissions from European tech firms via a dedicated form [3].

Cybersecurity: Fortifying Europe’s Digital Defenses

Cybersecurity is a critical focus of EuroStack, as reliance on foreign providers exposes Europe to data breaches and geopolitical risks [5]. The catalogue prioritizes solutions with robust security frameworks. For example, Proton, a Swiss-based provider of encrypted email and cloud storage, is featured in the catalogue’s webinar series launched on May 22, 2025, for its GDPR-compliant, privacy-by-design services [6]. Proton’s integration with EuroStack’s Sovereign European Cloud API (SECA) ensures secure data handling, reducing risks from U.S. data access laws impacting 60% of European firms using U.S. clouds [4]. “Achieving European tech sovereignty can only happen if we federate our digital solutions into a commercially viable offer,” says Sebastiano Toffaletti, DIGITAL SME Secretary-General [6]. This approach protects against data integrity attacks and enhances interoperability.

Data Infrastructure: Enabling Federated Data Spaces

Data infrastructure is another priority, with EuroStack promoting federated data spaces for secure, cross-border data sharing. The catalogue includes solutions like the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI), which supports secure applications such as digital IDs and supply chain tracking. For instance, a biotech firm in Ljubljana uses EBSI to access genomic datasets securely, running simulations on Bologna’s Leonardo supercomputer via EuroStack’s decentralized cloud, ensuring compliance with EU privacy laws [7]. This contrasts with U.S.-based clouds, where data sovereignty is often compromised. “EuroStack’s role in accelerating innovation in precision medicine, enabling secure collaboration while safeguarding patient privacy, is transformative,” says Prof. Mariana Mazzucato [7].

Challenges and Future Outlook

EuroStack faces challenges, with critics like ECIPE warning that “Buy European” policies could lead to a €610 billion annual GDP loss by limiting access to global services [8]. European vendors’ limited scale and reliance on U.S. clouds pose hurdles [8]. However, the catalogue’s AI-driven assessments and a €100 billion AI initiative likened to a “CERN for AI” signal robust future growth [2]. Events like the 2025 “Towards a Simpler Single Market” conference will refine its strategy [9].

Conclusion

The EuroStack initiative and its Tech Sovereignty Catalogue are pivotal for Europe’s digital sovereignty. By mapping EU-based solutions and prioritizing cybersecurity and data infrastructure, they address vulnerabilities while fostering innovation. Examples like Proton and EBSI highlight their potential. With a €300 billion vision, EuroStack offers a blueprint for a secure, competitive digital Europe, as Martin Hullin notes: “The Catalogue is a crucial and timely initiative, enhancing the visibility of European digital capabilities” [3].

Footnotes and Sources

[1] Bertelsmann Stiftung. “EuroStack – A European Alternative for Digital Sovereignty.” February 13, 2025. https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de
[2] UCL IIPP. “EuroStack: A Roadmap for Digital Sovereignty.” February 13, 2025. https://www.ucl.ac.uk
[3] European DIGITAL SME Alliance. “New Tech Sovereignty Catalogue Announced.” June 25, 2025. https://www.digitalsme.eu/new-tech-sovereignty-catalogue-announced/
[4] CIO. “EuroStack: Europe’s Path to Digital Independence?” June 19, 2025. https://www.cio.com
[5] bst-europe.eu. “EuroStack: The Urgency of Europe’s Digital Independence.” March 18, 2025.
[6] European DIGITAL SME Alliance. “Unveiling EuroStack: Tech Solutions Made in Europe Go Live.” May 9, 2025. https://www.digitalsme.eu
[7] EuroStack. “Building a European Alternative for Technological Sovereignty.” February 13, 2025. https://www.euro-stack.info
[8] ECIPE. “EuroStack’s Hypocrisy: A European Vision Built on American Cloud Solutions?” March 20, 2025. https://ecipe.org
[9] ec.europa.eu. “How the DIGITAL Building Blocks Can Help Bring EuroStack’s Vision to Life.” May 20, 2025.