Europe’s digital autonomy depends not only on strengthening its internal capabilities but also on building trusted international partnerships. As geopolitical competition intensifies, the EU needs a more coherent external digital strategy that complements its pursuit of digital sovereignty.
Drawing on 199 EU-led digital initiatives across all major regions and five domains, this Analysis shows that the Union’s global engagement now extends well beyond regulation to include infrastructure, research, cybersecurity and security cooperation. Yet the EU’s growing digital footprint remains fragmented, highlighting the need for greater prioritisation, coordination and delivery to translate engagement into strategic impact.
The EU should develop targeted partnerships to secure access to critical technologies, deepen trusted value chains and strengthen resilient digital infrastructure. By supporting partners’ capacity-building, it can also reinforce its diplomatic influence while fostering long-term economic ties. A stronger external posture would ultimately reduce Europe’s exposure to coercion in a technological landscape where structural dependencies are increasingly weaponised.
