EU’s Apply AI Strategy Aims to Secure Technological Independence

The European Union (EU) released its Apply AI Strategy in October to achieve technological self-reliance amid shifting geopolitical alliances and rising global competition. According to a Complex Discovery article, a €1 billion funding initiative will be redirected from existing EU programs to accelerate the adoption of AI across the manufacturing, healthcare, defense, and public administration sectors. 

The Apply AI Strategy emphasizes open-source development as the foundation for EU digital sovereignty. It will promote reusable, shareable AI solutions across EU institutions to strengthen local innovation and reduce reliance on US and Chinese technologies. For professionals managing legal technology infrastructure, data security, and compliance, it represents a call to reassess dependencies and align with new procurement and governance standards.

The strategy highlights plans to encourage EU member states to adopt and share reusable AI solutions across borders. Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen has framed the initiative as a declaration of Europe’s resolve to “rise with determination and unity” in defining its own digital path.

Open-source deployments are central to the EU’s strategy, enhancing transparency, accountability, and local control over AI systems. Embracing open-source European AI solutions will align with the EU’s emerging standards and directives, while embedding ethical guidelines reduces extraterritorial legal exposure. 

While Europe’s push for self-reliance reflects a strategic pivot toward independence, the initiative is also an assertion of moral leadership: AI must “put people first,” grounded in transparency, trust, and sustainability. If effectively implemented, the Apply AI Strategy could redefine Europe’s role in the global tech order.