**Author: 07.11.2025

Executive Summary

2026 marks the turning point toward mandatory digital sovereignty in the EU. With the implementation of NIS2, DORA, and tightened data protection laws, companies must fundamentally rethink their IT infrastructure. Critical industries and government agencies may only use EU-sovereign providers – mere EU hosting is no longer sufficient. Action recommendation: Immediate assessment of current vendor landscape and gradual replacement of non-compliant systems before compliance deadlines.

Critical Guiding Questions

How quickly can companies convert their existing IT infrastructure to EU-sovereign alternatives before compliance deadlines expire?
What hidden dependencies on US corporations still exist in seemingly European solutions, and how can these be identified?
To what extent will increasing surveillance laws limit the practical usability of encryption technologies in corporate communications?

Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives

Short-term (1 year)

Compliance panic and market consolidation: Companies hastily search for EU-sovereign alternatives, leading to supply shortages and higher prices. Initial sanctions against non-compliant organizations create precedents.

Medium-term (5 years)

Emergence of a European tech ecosystem: Modular, interoperable EU platforms establish themselves as the standard. Big Tech responds with lobbying and technical workarounds, while new European champions emerge.

Long-term (10-20 years)

Global fragmentation of digital infrastructure: Europe, USA, and China develop separate, incompatible tech stacks. Quantum-safe encryption becomes a differentiating factor in international trade.

Main Summary

Core Topic & Context

Starting in 2026, digital sovereignty transforms from a strategic vision into a legal obligation. The EU enforces binding standards through NIS2, DORA, and the AI Act, forcing critical infrastructures and companies to use EU-controlled IT systems.

Key Facts & Figures

2026: Implementation of mandatory EU sovereignty rules
6 main trends identified: Data protection, sovereignty, post-quantum encryption, collaboration security, Big Tech unbundling, sovereign AI
New standards: IETF's MLS (Messaging Layer Security) as "post-quantum ready" alternative
Affected legislation: NIS2, DORA, EU AI Act, ChatControl, Online Safety Act (UK), Loi SREN (France)
First implementation: Wire as the first enterprise platform with productive MLS deployment

Stakeholders & Affected Parties

Primarily affected: Critical infrastructures, government agencies, financial services, healthcare
Secondarily affected: All EU companies with sensitive data or AI usage
Technology providers: Massive conversion to EU-sovereign architectures required
Big Tech: Lobbying counter-offensive and technical adaptation strategies

Opportunities & Risks

Opportunities:

Emergence of an independent European tech ecosystem
Competitive advantages for companies converting early
Improved security through modular, auditable systems
Quantum-safe encryption as future technology

Risks:

Compliance violations lead to severe sanctions
Higher costs due to vendor changes and system conversions
Supply shortages for EU-sovereign alternatives
Encryption restrictions through surveillance laws

Action Relevance

Immediate action required: Companies must review and convert their entire IT landscape for EU sovereignty by 2026. Critical: Seemingly European providers owned by US corporations do not meet requirements. Time-critical: Early conversion secures better terms and avoids last-minute compliance risks.

Fact Check

Verification status: ✅ Core statements on NIS2, DORA, and EU AI Act confirmed
Supplementary research: Current EU legislation and implementation deadlines verified

References

Primary source:

Digital Sovereignty Becomes Mandatory - IT-Daily article from November 6, 2025

Supplementary sources:

Verification status: ✅ Facts checked on November 6, 2025