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This topic examines Europe's strategic position in global AI development. Francesca Bria argues that control of "The Stack" (hardware, software, networks, data) defines 21st-century geopolitical power. Europe is "a regulatory leader but infrastructurally dependent": only 4% of global cloud infrastructure is European-owned. She proposes EuroStack as a democratic alternative to US "surveillance capitalism" and Chinese "digital authoritarianism."
Why this matters for Danish AI policy: Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen co-signed the 2021 letter calling for European digital sovereignty. What should Denmark's role be in building European AI infrastructure? How can Denmark balance transatlantic alliance with European autonomy?
Required Reading
Author Credentials
Francesca Bria is the initiator of the EuroStack Project. She is an innovation economist and professor at UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Previously she served as Chief Technology Officer of Barcelona and President of the Italian Innovation Agency. She advises the European Commission and United Nations on digital policy.
Supplementary Materials
Videos
Additional Reading
Danish Context
- Mette Frederiksen's 2021 joint letter. Danish PM co-signed call for European digital sovereignty with other EU leaders.
- Danish public sector digitalization. Denmark's advanced e-government as potential model.
- Nordic cooperation on digital infrastructure. Regional approaches to sovereignty.
Guiding Questions
- The sovereignty case: Bria argues Europe needs its own digital infrastructure. What are the strongest arguments for this position? What are the costs and risks of pursuing digital sovereignty?
- The 4% problem: Only 4% of global cloud infrastructure is European-owned. Is this a problem that can realistically be solved? What would a credible path to European cloud sovereignty look like?
- EuroStack feasibility: Bria proposes a €300 billion Sovereign Tech Fund. Is this realistic? How does it compare to what the US and China are investing? What would Denmark's share be?
- Transatlantic tensions: How does European digital sovereignty interact with NATO alliance and US security partnerships? Can Denmark pursue both simultaneously, or must it choose?
- Danish leadership: Mette Frederiksen signed the 2021 sovereignty letter. What concrete actions has Denmark taken since? What role could Denmark play in EuroStack given its advanced digitalization?
Presentation Angle Ideas
- "Denmark as EuroStack Champion": Argue Denmark should take a leadership role in European digital sovereignty, leveraging its advanced public sector digitalization and high trust as proof-of-concept for European alternatives.
- "The Transatlantic Balance": Explore how Denmark can support European sovereignty while maintaining strong US alliance. Identify areas where these goals conflict and propose prioritization criteria.
- "Nordic Digital Sovereignty": Propose a Nordic-first approach to digital sovereignty as a stepping stone to broader European coordination. How could Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland cooperate on AI infrastructure?
- "Sovereignty Skepticism": Challenge the digital sovereignty framing. Argue that global interdependence is inevitable and beneficial, and that Denmark should focus on regulatory influence rather than infrastructure independence.