Advancing EU Digital Sovereignty in Public Administrations

EU digital sovereignty has become an increasingly urgent priority for public administrations across the European Union, which must identify, assess, and manage the dependencies and vulnerabilities that constrain their autonomy. Building digital sovereignty requires action along four areas: people, markets and products, infrastructure, and governance. Achieving greater sovereignty requires the coordinated action of a diverse network of people, aligned toward the shared goal of more autonomous and resilient administrations. At market level, public administrations play a dual role as catalysts for local innovation and, through procurement-driven strategies, as drivers of more diversified markets that reduce overreliance on a narrow set of critical suppliers. At the infrastructural level, ensuring that digital assets are robust, secure, and compliant with EU regulations and values is essential to safeguarding this autonomy. Finally, governing digital sovereignty demands clear goal-setting, the development of steering capacity, and a rethinking of institutional priorities—calling for coordinated, value-driven institutions capable of acting decisively while remaining adaptable to a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Despite its growing relevance, the practical implications of EU digital sovereignty for public administration remain insufficiently understood. This brief enters the discussion by detailing reflections on the actions needed by public administrations to strengthen their digital sovereignty, and concludes with a research agenda to build a common, coherent approach across the Union.