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Fez– France is advancing a structured effort to reduce its reliance on non-European digital technologies, as policymakers work to define measurable targets and a clear implementation timeline.
The initiative, supported by the Directorate General for Enterprises, is closely tied to the development of a European digital service framework, intended to strengthen autonomy over critical infrastructure, data governance, and technological standards.
This push is set to gain further momentum in June, when the Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs (DINUM) will host the first “Industrial Meetings on Digital Technology.”
The gathering is expected to bring together public institutions and private sector actors to formalize new forms of cooperation, including the creation of a “public-private alliance for European sovereignty.”
The objective is to move beyond fragmented initiatives and establish coordinated, cross-sector responses to Europe’s structural dependencies in the digital sphere.
At the political level, the message has been framed in unequivocal terms. David Amiel, France’s Minister of Public Action and Accounts, talked about the urgency of the transition.
“The State can no longer be content with acknowledging its dependency; it must move beyond it. We must desensitize ourselves from American tools and take back control of our digital destiny,” Amiel explained
“We can no longer accept that our data, our infrastructures, and our strategic decisions depend on solutions whose rules, pricing, evolution, and risks we do not control,” he further warned.
Amiel said a coordinated effort is now underway across ministries, public operators, and industrial partners to map these dependencies in detail and implement corrective measures.
“The transition is underway,” he noted, “with an unprecedented approach to identifying our vulnerabilities and reinforcing our digital sovereignty. Digital sovereignty is not an option.”
France bets big on digital autonomy
This position is echoed by Anne Le Hénanff, the Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, who described the issue as a broader strategic challenge for Europe.
“Digital sovereignty is not an option; it is a strategic necessity,” she said, stressing on the need for alignment between political ambition and operational capacity.
Le Hénanff pointed to France’s role in accelerating this shift. “Europe must equip itself with the means to match its ambitions, and France is leading by example by accelerating the transition toward sovereign, interoperable, and sustainable solutions,” she maintained.
She added that reducing dependence on extra-European technologies sends a strong signal: “It reflects a public authority that is regaining control over its technological choices in the service of its digital sovereignty.”
At the center of this transformation is the DINUM, which is tasked with designing and overseeing the state’s digital strategy.
The institution plays a coordinating role across government, ensuring that digital projects align with national priorities while improving the efficiency and performance of public services.
Its mandate extends from strategic planning to operational support, positioning it as a key driver in France’s effort to transition toward a more autonomous and resilient digital ecosystem.
Taken together, these initiatives reflect a shift in doctrine: from managing dependency to actively dismantling it.
Through regulatory frameworks, industrial coordination, and political commitment, France is seeking to redefine its position within the global digital landscape, one where sovereignty, rather than convenience, becomes the guiding principle.
