France and Germany Set Joint Course on AI, Cloud, and Digital Sovereignty

France and Germany have unveiled a joint Economic Agenda designed to strengthen European sovereignty in strategic technologies and industries. Announced during the Franco-German Ministerial Council, the plan lays out “flagship projects” across energy, trade, finance, labor, and advanced technologies, with a strong emphasis on digital sovereignty. A key moment in this initiative will be the European Digital Sovereignty Summit on November 18, 2025, where EU institutions, member states, industry leaders, and stakeholders will seek to align on a shared strategy and coordinated funding approach. Both governments stressed the importance of cloud sovereignty, especially in relation to sensitive data protection and jurisdictional concerns. The agenda also seeks closer cooperation in public sector digital tools, with efforts to align France’s “La Suite numérique” and Germany’s “OpenDesk.” This aims to create a Franco-German digital ecosystem for public services, reinforcing cross-border integration. On the regulatory front, Paris and Berlin plan to submit a joint proposal to the European Commission to simplify and better coordinate EU rules on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data management. The move reflects growing recognition of the need for streamlined governance as Europe responds to global competition in digital policy and technology. Beyond governance, the agenda includes commitments to joint research and industrial projects in AI, quantum computing, cloud technologies, and space. By combining infrastructure investments and collaborative governance frameworks, the two countries hope to strengthen Europe’s technological capabilities and secure its place in the global digital race. For both France and Germany, this partnership marks a step toward aligning national policies with broader European ambitions, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that Europe retains control over its digital future.