European Sovereignty in the Digital Age

 

This paper is the first report of the IIEA’s Europe’s Digital Future project. As part of this project, which is supported by Google, a programme of events and research is exploring the concept of digital sovereignty in Europe, and what future it might herald for the EU and for small, open economies like Ireland.

This report provides an overview of the issue of digital sovereignty. It seeks to examine the emerging digital sovereignty agenda in Europe, how this phrase is perceived by policymakers and the possible relationship between digital sovereignty and Europe’s openness. This report particularly focuses on the perspectives of Europe’s small open economies and the potential role they may play in this emerging policy area.

The report concludes that many policymakers and Member States broadly recognise some common digital challenges and opportunities which are facing Europe and which underpin the discussion of European digital sovereignty. The importance of ensuring that Europe can achieve its digital policy objectives while maintaining its openness is recognised by many policymakers, but will be of particular significance to Europe’s small open economies, who may have a key role to play in ensuring that this is achieved.