At the threshold of the digital age, Europe seems to be lagging behind. By focusing primarily on its food, energy, and industrial sovereignty, it appears to overlook the potential that the digital realm holds for the future growth of these sectors. Entrusting our strategic data to foreign powers, we inadvertently jeopardize our economic future. The threat is serious: without a strong and immediate response, Europe risks sliding into a status akin to that of a third world.
This lag in Europe is partly rooted in its history. Since 2002, it has been losing ground to a digitally dominant America, resulting in a widening gap of nearly one point per year in GDP. This disparity reflects the long history of humanity, where European societies, deeply rooted in Enlightenment ideals, require more time to integrate and respond to digital changes.
However, Europe must accelerate its digital transition. European societies, already weakened by years of underinvestment in the digital economy, struggle to compete with American giants. The digital realm has become the primary driver of value creation and employment, but Europe is lagging behind in this area. Current political choices, focused on short-term deficit reduction, do not take into account the long-term challenges posed by the digital revolution.
To bridge this gap, Europe must invest heavily in innovation and education. It is crucial to create an environment conducive to the emergence of European industrial technology companies, while regulating the digital sector to ensure fair competition. Furthermore, education in digital skills must be strengthened from a young age to prepare the population for the challenges of the digital world.
We are at a decisive moment in our history, where Europe has the opportunity to reinvent itself as a global leader in the digital field. This will require political determination and close collaboration among various stakeholders in society. But it is also a historic chance to redefine our future for the better. The question now is: are we ready to rise to this challenge?