European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her 2025 State of the Union address to underline Europe’s push for digital sovereignty, unveiling a series of initiatives designed to boost competitiveness, strengthen democracy, and protect citizens online.
At the core of her speech was a pledge to move “faster, smarter and more European” in digital innovation. She announced plans for an EU Cloud and AI Development Act, aimed at strengthening Europe’s capacity in artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure, and stressed that the bloc must set its own standards in key areas of digital regulation.
Von der Leyen also proposed a Digital Fairness Act, targeting unfair practices in online markets, and a Media Resilience Programme to counter disinformation and safeguard democratic debate. Protecting citizens featured prominently, with a new EU action plan against cyberbullying highlighted as part of efforts to make the digital sphere safer.
Digitalisation was also woven into broader industrial policy, with the Single Market Roadmap to 2028 and upcoming Industrial Innovation Acts expected to accelerate innovation and harmonise Europe’s digital economy.
The Commission’s President stressed that these measures are not just about technology but about autonomy, signalling Europe’s intent to reduce reliance on foreign tech giants and shape global digital rules.
