How big is the EU tech dependence on the US?

During his inauguration, Donald Trump was accompanied by some of the world’s most influential tech leaders: Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg. There is no doubt that technology and politics are deeply connected in the US, and the country is, without question, a global technology leader. At the same time, Trump’s threat to slap steep tariffs on European goods shows how quickly policy can become a weapon.

So the question is: How big is the problem?

Data from the European Parliament

A recent study for the European Parliament states that non-EU companies control most of the critical layers of the European digital stack. US firms hold intellectual-property “choke points” in operating systems, cloud platforms, chip architectures, and machine-learning frameworks.

About 70 % of the EU cloud market is dominated by Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Around 80 % of corporate spending on cloud and software in Europe flows to US companies.

This dominance extends to cybersecurity and consumer software. Most firewalls, identity-management systems, and threat-monitoring tools used in Europe come from US or Israeli vendors.

Android and iOS together command virtually 100 % of the mobile operating-system market, while Microsoft Windows dominates desktops.

European leaders recognize that the continent is falling behind in the digital race. 1

While the US has produced five tech firms valued at more than €2 trillions, Europe has none.

What can you do as a business or individual?

You don’t need to wait for EU regulation or billion-euro initiatives. One of the simplest and most effective actions is to choose European software where viable. Purchasing decisions shape markets.

Opting for European software is also an investment in Europe’s economic future. Many European businesses want to use tools built with their own languages, regulatory environment, and market needs in mind. The EuroStack report emphasizes that purchasing European solutions creates high-skilled jobs, reduces dependencies, and supports critical industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and energy. 2

By selecting software hosted and owned within Europe, users benefit from GDPR-compliant data protection, avoid extraterritorial data access, and reduce exposure to unpredictable US policy.

Where to look for European alternatives?

I would say “Google them.” But, you know… you should probably use a Europe-based browser—such as ecosia.org
(Germany-based). You can also browse curated lists at https://euroalternative.co
.

Shameless plug: The author of this article is part of the ResourcePlanner.io
team (a European alternative to Float). If you’re looking to support EU-based SaaS while solving real planning problems, we’d be happy if you took a look.

In an era of trade wars, tariffs, and geopolitical uncertainty, choosing European software isn’t just a technical decision, it’s a strategic one. By investing in home-grown solutions today, businesses and institutions can foster innovation, protect their data, and contribute to a more resilient and sovereign digital Europe.

Resources

  1. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2025/778576/ECTI_STU(2025)778576_EN.pdf
  2. https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/fileadmin/files/user*upload/EuroStack*2025_final1.pdf
  3. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/report/digital-sovereignty-europes-declaration-of-independence

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