DIGITAL SME is proud to be one of the signatories urgently calling for a European preference in public procurement. Around 1,200 CEOs – including DIGITAL SME President Oliver Grün – and business leaders from across Europe’s industrial sectors are sending a clear message:

“Europe must finally establish a genuine preference for its own strategic sectors based on a simple principle: wherever European public money is used, it must contribute to European production and quality jobs.”

The call, initiated by Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, acknowledges that today’s world is increasingly governed by power relations. In this situation, where tariffs, massive subsidies, and export restrictions have become the norm, Europe faces a stark choice. The Chinese have “Made in China,” the Americans have “Buy American,” and most other economic powers have similar schemes that give preference to their own strategic assets. In the face of Europe’s heavy reliance on a handful of large technology companies, the continent can no longer afford to be just a playground for its competitors while its flagship industries, know-how, and manufacturing footprint gradually shrink. Digital technologies are the most critical industry for Europe’s competitiveness and future prosperity which is why reducing the current dependencies and vulnerabilities must be the top priority. Every euro of public investment into cloud services, AI systems, or digital infrastructure is a strategic choice. Europe should choose itself.

Read the full call for a European preference below.