Brussels – A growing chorus of voices is questioning whether the European Union can achieve its ambitions of becoming a global leader in artificial intelligence without addressing its fundamental reliance on US technology firms. The assessment comes from antitrust economist Cristina Caffarra, who argues that strategic autonomy in the age of AI requires ownership and control of critical technological infrastructure.
Caffarra’s warning, articulated in commentary published March 3, 2026, challenges a recently gaining traction narrative within Europe. This narrative posits that the continent can leverage its strengths in traditional industries like mechanics, automation, and engineering, combined with its established open-source community and emerging AI models, to become an “industrial AI superpower.” Caffarra, however, suggests this vision may be based on “magical thinking.”
Speaking at an online event hosted by The Age of Intelligence podcast on March 1, 2026, Caffarra has consistently emphasized the demand for concrete action over theoretical debates on “digital sovereignty.” Her operate, spanning two decades as an expert in European antitrust cases, has focused on the intersection of competition, regulation, and industrial policy in digital markets. She has been a vocal advocate for policies that promote technological independence.
The debate over Europe’s AI future comes as policymakers grapple with the increasing dominance of US tech giants in key areas of the AI landscape. Caffarra’s analysis suggests that simply building on existing European strengths will not be enough to overcome this dependence. Ownership and control of the underlying infrastructure are, in her view, essential for genuine strategic autonomy.
Caffarra’s views were also presented at the Brussels Economic Forum in 2025, where she contributed to discussions on the role of antitrust and regulation in shaping the political economy and trade policy. The European Commission has yet to publicly respond to Caffarra’s latest critique, and no immediate policy changes have been announced in response to her concerns.
