In a time when trade conflicts and tariffs are destabilizing global markets, Europe's dependence on proprietary US technologies is becoming an increasing strategic risk. Recent announcements by US President Donald Trump, imposing tariffs of up to 25% on European goods, have prompted the European Union to consider countermeasures that could affect US tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and IBM.
This escalation highlights a critical vulnerability in Europe: the lack of an independent, globally leading IT strategy. Aside from a few major players like SAP, Europe lacks a comprehensive tech infrastructure capable of competing with US-based corporations. This results in dependencies that are particularly dangerous in times of economic and geopolitical instability.
Open source presents a powerful solution. By adopting and promoting open-source technologies, Europe can achieve not only technological independence, but also drive innovation and reduce costs. Open source allows businesses to adapt software to their needs, transparently fix security issues, and free themselves from the licensing models of major providers.
Supporting open-source projects and companies in Europe could help create a sustainable, sovereign IT landscape that is less vulnerable to external economic and political pressures. The time has come for Europe to take its digital future into its own hands and use open source to build a stable and independent technological foundation.