European policymakers, industry leaders and digital experts gathered in Brussels for Wire’s European Digital Sovereignty Summit, emphasising that Europe must build a digital ecosystem rooted in its own values — democracy, transparency and interoperability — rather than replicating the approach of US Big Tech.
The event – arranged and managed by Context – was hosted in the surrounding area of European Parliament in Brussels and brought together MEPs, senior policymakers and business leaders to explore how Europe can strengthen control over its digital infrastructure, data and standards while remaining globally competitive. Discussions focused on AI, cloud, semiconductors and cybersecurity, and framed digital sovereignty not as protectionism, but as a strategic imperative for economic resilience and democratic integrity.
For the Context team, it was a day of impactful dialogue and collaboration, organising and facilitating an event that addressed one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: creating a sovereign, resilient, and innovation-driven digital ecosystem that balances security, competitiveness, and openness.
MEPs Brando Benifei (Italy), Alexandra Geese (Germany) and Bruno Gonçalves (Portugal) led the debate, joined by representatives from Wire, Airbus, and other industry stakeholders. The conversation highlighted Europe’s growing concerns about reliance on foreign cloud providers, browsers and other critical digital infrastructure.
Benjamin Schilz, CEO of Wire, said:
“Reducing reliance on foreign tech infrastructure is key to protecting democratic stability and data sovereignty, particularly given geopolitical risks. Open source, interoperability and transparent standards are essential to build trust, avoid vendor lock-in and strengthen resilience.”
Oliver Brown, Chief Commercial Officer at Wire, added:
“Regulation should enable firms to scale through competition reform and investment in AI, semiconductors and cybersecurity. Europe’s strong talent base requires deeper market integration.”
Jean‑Phillipe Scherer, Head of EU/NATO Public Affairs for Defence and Space at Airbus, noted:
“Individual priorities, rather than national sovereignty, are the greater barrier to European cooperation.”
The Summit also explored risks associated with concentrated browser ownership, cloud dependency and governance vulnerabilities. While sovereignty must not mean isolation, speakers agreed that Europe must remain globally engaged while anchoring its systems in its own standards, safeguards, and interoperable technologies.
The Summit concluded with a consensus that political ambition must translate into operational delivery, with stronger alignment needed across AI, semiconductor and cybersecurity policy, and a simpler, deeper single market that supports innovation and resilience.