Reclaiming Digital Sovereignty: The EU's Role in the Geopolitics of Digital Governance

The digital era defines the 21st-century global landscape, bringing opportunities for innovation and economic growth but also posing significant challenges in governance and geopolitics. The emergence of powerful digital technologies has resulted in competing visions for digital governance, primarily led by the United States and China, each embodying fundamentally different principles and practices. As these two digital superpowers vie for influence, the European Union (EU) positions itself as an independent actor with its own distinct regulatory framework. 

This policy paper explores the EU's potential as a regulatory superpower and its leadership in promoting digital governance based on human rights, democratic values, and ethical considerations. It argues that to maintain its position as a pivotal player in the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, the EU must move beyond passive regulatory influence and actively forge strategic alliances with like-minded states across the Global North and South.