A Federal Europe Designed by Crises, Not Conventions

After more than twenty years in and for Europe, I've seen how the EU grows whenever reality exposes the limits of national power. The EU sovereignty crisis might serve as a "Sprunginnovation" — a leapfrog innovation.

At our first Sovereignty Salon in Brussels, one message was clear: digital sovereignty is a cross-sector, international challenge that concerns everyone who competes and cooperates within Europe. None of us can act entirely alone — yet we must learn to understand and reduce our dependencies.

It is a truly European dilemma, and one that — as everyone around the table agreed — can only be solved through courage, innovation, and competition.

We discussed this with Estelle Göger (Vice Head of Cabinet, EVP Stéphane Séjourné, European Commission), Thomas Boué (Business Software Alliance – BSA), Zach Meyers (CERRE), Patrick von Braunmühl (Bundesdruckerei), and Ben Brake (formerly BMDV Germany), joined by colleagues from the European Parliament and industry.

As we have seen in times of crisis — from COVID to Ukraine — the power of facts has often advanced European integration faster than treaties ever could. That tension will define the next phase of Europe's federal evolution. There is an alternative to the illiberal path: the European way — facing harsh realities together, the very reason the Union was founded before idealists once again had to stand up against nationalism.

At Erste Lesung, our work remains both client-driven and vision-driven: helping business and politics think through the endgame of European unity under all circumstances.

Because thought leadership means thinking ahead, not echoing others. As one participant said of our guest Estelle Göger: "She managed to operationalise digital sovereignty for each industry in the room."

Thank you to all participants — this roundtable certainly won't have been the last.