The European Union has established a new organization to introduce blockchain infrastructure, aiming to reduce its reliance on US technology. This initiative, called “Europeum,” was announced during a meeting of telecommunications ministers at the European Council in Brussels. The meeting also saw the approval of the EU’s landmark law on artificial intelligence.
Impact on Citizens and Businesses
Mathieu Michel, Belgium’s state secretary for digitalization, emphasized that the new blockchain infrastructure would have a significant impact on both individuals and businesses within the EU. Michel, who has been a key advocate for the blockchain project managed by EU states, stated that Europeum would become an integral part of everyday life for European citizens. This new system would allow citizens to trace the origins of their products and enable businesses to protect their intellectual property by maintaining data on immutable blockchain networks.
Participation and Expansion
Ten EU member states, including Italy, Poland, and Greece, have agreed to help operate and implement the Europeum blockchain. Michel mentioned that other European countries would also be able to use this infrastructure, with more nations expected to join the initiative over time. Although Germany and France have not yet committed to the project, France has shown support for the initiative.
Promoting Sovereignty
Michel stressed the importance of creating a new sovereign infrastructure to reduce dependence on external providers like Amazon Web Services for telecommunications. He envisaged that digital identities, wallets, credentials, and licenses would be recorded on the Europeum blockchain. This infrastructure aims to streamline legal and bureaucratic processes through automated smart contracts and support applications such as the metaverse and the European Central Bank’s digital euro.
Future Prospects and Digital Twins
Michel highlighted the need for a sovereign infrastructure that could meet critical criteria such as singularity, security, privacy, and interoperability. The concept of “digital twins” and the metaverse were also mentioned as areas that would benefit from Europeum’s secure and efficient blockchain infrastructure.
Development and Implementation
The blockchain infrastructure has been under development since 2017, overseen by an agency known as the European Blockchain and Services Infrastructure. European Commission officials confirmed that developers and companies had created a prototype that is already functional. However, due to the European Commission’s lack of legal authority to operate a blockchain for European citizens, the project has remained in pilot mode.
To move forward, the project has now been transformed into a European Digital Infrastructure Consortium, a multinational initiative supported by the European Commission. This consortium falls under Europe’s Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, which has a budget of €165 billion to support its objectives.
Michel clarified that while citizens do not need to be overtly aware of Europeum’s existence, they should be confident that any data exchanged between nations, administrations, or companies is safe and secure.
Conclusion
The launch of Europeum marks a significant step for the EU in building a sovereign and secure digital infrastructure. By reducing reliance on US technology and creating a robust blockchain framework, the EU aims to enhance data security, streamline administrative processes, and support future digital innovations. This initiative aligns with the broader goals of Europe’s Digital Decade Policy Programme, ensuring that the EU remains at the forefront of digital transformation and technological sovereignty.
