European technology providers announce sovereign cloud and AI initiative

Europe is to develop a new federated cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure initiative designed to end the continent’s strategic dependence on technology providers from the United States and China. Announced by Telefónica at the Mobile World Congress, the EURO-3C project is backed by the European Commission and involves more than 70 organisations, including telecommunications operators, startups, and technology companies.

The initiative connects existing national infrastructure into a cross-border network of nodes rather than building a single platform from scratch. This secure, sovereign model integrates cloud, AI, and edge computing to accelerate digital services. European officials stated the project is essential to mitigate the economic and security risks associated with overreliance on foreign IT infrastructure, particularly following major outages last year.

Priority sectors for the new infrastructure include the automotive industry, e-health, public services, and sovereign government clouds. There is also a specific focus on developing agentic AI systems capable of autonomous action. Architects of the project believe this collaborative landscape will allow Europe to develop its own technology and ensure a competitive scale in the digital era.

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