German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron will meet in Berlin for a summit aimed at reducing Europe’s reliance on major US technology platforms. The gathering seeks to support a more independent EU digital strategy at a time when the bloc is preparing revisions to its AI and data rules.

The push for digital sovereignty comes amid concerns that Europe risks losing ground to the United States in key technological fields. Leaders argue that future regulatory changes must balance competitiveness with established principles such as privacy and safety. The summit is expected to inform Europe’s position ahead of upcoming proposals on AI and data governance.

Berlin is also hosting a separate two-day European security conference featuring German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The overlap in timing highlights how discussions on technology and security now intersect in EU policy. Both agendas point to the need for coordination between digital development, industrial policy, and broader geopolitical considerations.

Topics set to be addressed at the summit include technological dependence, support for European digital infrastructure, and the role of industrial cooperation between EU member states. The outcomes are likely to influence negotiations on the forthcoming AI and data frameworks.

Why does it matter?

German and French officials have framed the meeting as part of a wider effort to strengthen Europe’s ability to compete globally while preserving the region’s regulatory values. The discussions in Berlin will contribute to the EU’s ongoing debate on strategic technologies and the future direction of its digital policy.