BRUSSELS — On the occasion of the Franco-German Digital Sovereignty Summit in Berlin, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) released a new paper outlining a clearer, more practical approach to Europe’s fast-evolving sovereignty debate. The paper, “Keeping the Door Open: The EU’s Path to Digital Sovereignty,” argues that Europe can strengthen its autonomy without retreating into technological protectionism or closing the door on global innovation.

At a time when sovereignty has become one of the EU’s most contested policy themes, the paper offers an alternative to narrow localization measures and “Europe-only” strategies. Instead, it calls for a sovereignty built on capability, confidence, and cooperation. Its core recommendations include:
•    Interoperability and international standards to reduce fragmentation and increase resilience;
•    Risk-based, transparent governance that targets real vulnerabilities rather than origins;
•    Secure, open data flows and competitive digital markets to support Europe’s AI and cloud ambitions;
•    A skilled workforce and smarter public procurement to reinforce long-term European autonomy.

“With digital sovereignty rising sharply up the political agenda, Europe faces a defining choice,” said Thomas Boué, Director General, Policy — EMEA. “Europe’s sovereignty debate shouldn’t become a race to shut others out. It should be about building Europe up.”

BSA has been closely engaged in the sovereignty debate across the EU, contributing to discussions on cloud governance, data frameworks, cybersecurity, and digital markets. The Berlin summit, bringing together policymakers from France, Germany, and across the EU institutions, provides a timely context for BSA’s intervention in the public debate.

Boué will be in Berlin on 18 November, representing BSA at the summit and sharing the paper’s key messages with policymakers and industry leaders involved in shaping Europe’s next steps.

Read the paper here.