Tagesspiegel op-ed on "Warum die europäische Souveränität auch vom Ausbau eigener digitaler Kompetenzen abhängt"

Europe's digital sovereignty depends not only on infrastructure but also on building its own digital skills and certification systems. Currently, many trainings rely on non-European platforms, reinforcing dependency. Together with Sebastiano Tofaletti and Francesco Bonfiglio, I have call in a Tagesspiegel op-ed for EU-wide standards and public-private initiatives to reclaim control.

Europe’s digital sovereignty is about more than servers and software. It also requires control over the skills and training that underpin our digital economy. At present, a large share of digital education and certification in the EU is delivered via U.S. or Chinese platforms - entrenching dependencies that undermine our autonomy.

If we want to shape the digital transformation on European terms, we need to invest in our own competence frameworks, open standards, and independent certification systems. Public institutions - especially schools, universities, and administrations - must lead the way by using European tools and platforms.

The goal should be clear: harmonised, EU-wide standards that are interoperable, trustworthy, and aligned with European values. Public–private partnerships can help scale these alternatives, making them viable and attractive across all Member States.

Building a digital Europe means not only creating infrastructure - but also ensuring that our people are trained and empowered through sovereign, European pathways.

Read the full article here.