At re:publica 2026, the panel « Cut me loose: Wie der EU der digitale Befreiungsschlag gelingt » (How the EU succeeds in its digital liberation) tackled one of the most pressing questions of our time: How can Europe break free from its deep-seated dependencies on global tech giants? Moderated by Daniel Leisegang (Co-Editor-in-Chief at netzpolitik.org), the discussion brought together Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament), Alexandra Geese (Member of the European Parliament), Frank Karlitschek (Founder and CEO of Nextcloud), and Dr. Julia Pohle (WZB/ClaimSov) to explore the structural, political, and geopolitical hurdles on the path to digital sovereignty.

During the discussion, Pohle offered a critical perspective on the term « digital sovereignty, » describing it as a « political buzzword » that is often filled with contradictory goals depending on who is using it. She advocated for shifting the focus toward « self-determination » (Selbstbestimmungsfähigkeit), the genuine capacity for individuals, organizations, and states to act independently and according to their own values in the digital sphere. A key takeaway from her analysis was the observation that recent policy debates have narrowed significantly, prioritizing industrial competitiveness and innovation while often neglecting democratic control and public-interest digital infrastructures.

Watch the full video (in German) to discover the multifaceted strategies, from the « Eurostack » initiative to procurement reform, that could finally allow Europe to steer its own digital future.

More at re:publica or YouTube.