The EU is eyeing to compete in the global race for computing capacity. The European Commission is investing €30 billion and recently launched a call for tenders for AI data centres in Europe. The goal is to strengthen Europe’s computing power. Compute is emerging as a strategic priority for several reasons. It is central to Europe’s economic security. Yet, the continent continues to lag behind the United States and China.
Investing in compute ensures far more than economic security. It helps to shape how technology influences the EU’s labour markets and societies at large. Data centres may not create many direct jobs - because they are largely automated. Yet, expanding Europe’s compute capacity can support dedicated economic areas and ecosystems that help maintain European jobs - instead of making them obsolete.
Moreover, AI is driven by both economic and political incentives. Greater European compute capacity would strengthen Europe’s ability to govern how data is used. It would provide alternatives to US big tech platforms shaped by Silicon Valley values.
It is surprising that not all EU member states have expressed interest in joining the initiative. Eighteen countries - including small Estonia and large Germany, France and Spain- are on board. That leaves nine - of the EU’s 27 member states - who have not (yet) joined.
One of the missing countries is the Netherlands, which prefers market-driven and private sector investments. In doing so, it risks overlooking the broader point that any European tech strategy must go hand in hand with an AI societal resilience strategy.
Ultimately, compute capacity is not only about technology and economic security. It is about societal resilience and the EU’s rules and values. Joining the Commission’s vision for compute is, at its core, about embracing a more positive vision of what AI can do for European societies.
Elizabeth Kuiper is Associate Director and Head of the Health and Societal Resilience Programme at the European Policy Centre.
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