EU to Launch Cloud Services and Chip Localization Plan on June 3, Shifting Public Procurement Toward Technology Sovereignty Screening
2026-06-02 11:08
Favorite

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The European Commission plans to unveil a package of technology sovereignty measures on June 3, focusing on cloud services, data centers, AI systems, and localized procurement of chips. The initiative, to be presented by EU Technology Affairs Commissioner Henna Virkkunen, aims to reduce the bloc's reliance on U.S. tech giants and East Asian semiconductor supply chains for critical digital infrastructure.

One core element of this policy package is the introduction of stricter sovereignty requirements in cloud service procurement for highly sensitive public sectors. According to disclosed draft content, the EU plans to incorporate non-price evaluation criteria into national procurement tenders for key sectors such as banking, energy, and healthcare. These criteria include whether software and hardware are developed within the EU, data protection levels, the potential for third-country governments to control data and services, and the openness of the supplier's home market to European cloud services. If these standards enter formal legislative processes, the access conditions for U.S. cloud providers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google in certain strategic public procurements could be significantly tightened.

The European Commission is also considering positioning itself as the central procurement body for data centers, cloud computing, software, and AI systems for EU institutions and member states. This arrangement would shift fragmented procurement toward a more centralized, policy-driven demand organization, making public sector orders a key entry point for the expansion of European local cloud services and digital infrastructure companies. For European cloud vendors, technology sovereignty standards, data jurisdiction, and local control capabilities will become competitive factors; for U.S. tech companies, establishing independently operated cloud zones in Europe, forming joint ventures with local firms, and strengthening local data control mechanisms may become necessary conditions to retain sensitive industry clients.

Data center approvals will also be tied to local chip usage and energy consumption constraints. The draft proposes granting faster approvals, priority grid access, and lower network fees to data centers that use European-made chips or reduce energy costs. This arrangement links cloud service infrastructure with semiconductor industry policy: on one hand, the EU aims to expand the supply of local cloud services and AI infrastructure; on the other, it seeks to stimulate demand for European chip design, manufacturing, and application through public procurement and data center construction, preventing chip projects from remaining solely at the level of subsidy-driven factory building and capacity planning.

On chip policy, the EU intends to introduce a "Chips Act 2.0" approach, strengthening demand-side pull beyond existing supply-side subsidies. The draft proposes connecting European chip suppliers with public sectors and industrial users through a "demand accelerator," procurement commitments, and a demand forum, while leveraging public innovation procurement to support startups and growth-stage enterprises within the EU. The document also notes that Europe's semiconductor ecosystem will require approximately €120 billion in public and private investment by 2035, with around €30 billion allocated to building advanced semiconductor manufacturing foundry capacity. Currently, Europe accounts for about 10% of global semiconductor production, and the original target of increasing this to 20% by 2030 faces significant pressure. Demand-side mechanisms are seen as a crucial tool to complete the industrial chain loop.

This policy package still requires subsequent support from EU member states and the European Parliament, and the official text may be adjusted before or after its release. Its impact has already extended beyond pure regulation, shifting toward an industrial policy mix centered on public procurement, data control, computing infrastructure, chip applications, and local enterprise growth. Europe's digital market has long relied on U.S. cloud platforms and globalized semiconductor supply chains. If the new localization measures are implemented, they will change the evaluation logic for cloud service tenders, data center construction, and chip procurement, while also subjecting multinational tech companies to more complex compliance and localization requirements in the European market.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com