Europe today stands at a defining moment in its technological and economic evolution. The message resonating from thought leaders like Cristina Caffarra is both urgent and uncompromising: the continent can no longer rely exclusively on regulatory frameworks or bureaucratic oversight as the cornerstone of its digital policy. While regulation provides necessary guardrails that protect fairness, privacy, and competition, it cannot serve as a substitute for the creative vitality and technological self-determination that innovation brings. Europe must transition from being primarily a rule-setting power to becoming an engine of invention and industrial capability—one that generates not only ideas but also globally competitive technology.
This transformation requires a deliberate, long-term commitment to cultivating a robust ecosystem where innovation is not sporadic but systemic. That means investing heavily in research and development, fostering start-ups that can scale, and creating an environment where capital and talent can flourish domestically rather than seeking opportunities abroad. For too long, many of Europe’s brightest minds have migrated to established tech powerhouses in the United States and Asia, drawn by greater access to funding, infrastructure, and risk-taking cultures that reward bold innovation. If this trend continues, Europe risks perpetuating a cycle of dependency—a digital subordination that mirrors the dynamics of a twenty-first-century colony, reliant on external actors for critical technology and digital infrastructure.
Europe does not lack ambition, intellectual capacity, or creative energy. What it lacks is the technological foundation and industrial momentum to convert its ideas into scalable innovations. Thus, the continental agenda must shift from an overemphasis on compliance and regulatory interpretation toward the tangible building of indigenous technological strength. This means not only encouraging private enterprise but also reimagining public investment strategies to accelerate growth in high-impact sectors—artificial intelligence, green technology, advanced manufacturing, and data infrastructure, among others.
The call to action, therefore, is more profound than a simple plea for competitiveness. It is a declaration that Europe’s sovereignty—its ability to determine its economic and societal trajectory—depends on its capacity to innovate independently. Sovereignty in the digital age is not merely political; it is technological, grounded in the control and creation of tools that shape the future. To safeguard its autonomy, Europe must invest courageously in building its own digital powerhouses. By fostering innovation rather than merely governing it, the continent can ensure that its digital future is designed and driven from within rather than dictated from abroad.
Sourse: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-12-18/time-for-europe-to-stop-making-excuses-and-step-up-eurostack-s-caffarra
