The Commission is proposing the European Technological Sovereignty Package, marking a change in Europe's approach to its tech ecosystems.

The Commission is putting forward a multi-pronged, comprehensive strategy to achieve technological sovereignty, with initiatives that are interconnected and mutually reinforcing across each stage of the value chain, from chips, to infrastructure, to software, cloud and AI, and in synergy with past and ongoing initiatives such as AI Factories and AI Gigafactories.

This is reflected in four initiatives:

• The Chips Act 2.0 to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem and supply chain resilience, and boost domestic demand
• The Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) to unlock the potential AI and cloud, to transform our industrial ecosystems and improve societal outcomes
• The EU Open Source Strategy to reduce dependencies across the entire technology stack
• A Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy

Link to Belgian article: https://www.standaard.be/buitenland/europese-leiders-roepen-wellicht-op-tot-sancties-tegen-israelische-minister-ben-gvir/155069687.html

https://www.newarab.com/news/due-close-ties-israel-germany-loses-out-unsc-seat

EU politicians have promised to increase deportations of undocumented migrants, under a new law that critics say mimics elements of the Trump administration’s brutal immigration crackdown.

Finalising a key element of an overhauled EU asylum and migration system, politicians have agreed a regulation that will enable national authorities to raid people’s homes to enforce deportation orders.

People facing a deportation order who are deemed to be uncooperative or a flight risk could be detained for up to two years, extendable to 30 months, compared with the 18-month detention period under existing law. Those who refuse to comply with a deportation order could have benefits or other allowances cut.

The regulation will also enable the creation of offshore return hubs, centres outside the EU where undocumented people would be held for unspecified periods, pending return to their home country.

Nazi imperialists got to stick together 😁

France has banned the display of Israeli offensive weapons at the 2026 edition of the Eurosatory international defence and security trade fair, the organisers told AFP on Monday.

"Only Israeli exhibitors showcasing anti-ballistic and anti-air defence systems will be allowed," said Charles Beaudouin, president of COGES Events, in response to a statement by the Israeli Defence Ministry protesting against the restrictions.

"This is a decision taken by the French government, by the Defence Council," Beaudouin added.

"There is no room for ambiguity: if an exhibitor also manufactures rockets, they will not be allowed to display them. This rules out any offensive weapons," he said.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/50044307

I can't help thinking that the timing of telling everybody that Ireland is heavily reliant on US Big-Tech as they take over EU Presidency is not a coincidence.

Ireland has the potential to lose 94,000 jobs and €11 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the economy by 2030 if data centre development is constrained, while the country’s competitiveness as a digital hub would slip, new research has found. A new report from the Department of Enterprise and KPMG detailing the research is set to go to cabinet this week. It underscores the importance of data centres for the major multinationals headquartered in Ireland and found if this infrastructure was restricted, roughly €1.6 billion in employment related tax revenues would also be lost annually.

It said data centres were critical to Ireland’s digital sectors, supporting ICT, finance, health, transport, retail, and professional services and noted that up to €104 billion in GVA and 876,000 jobs could depend on data centre capacity located here. Data centres act as a magnet for foreign investment, with over €15 billion invested and a strong pipeline of future projects. However, without sufficient capacity for this infrastructure, the country will be at risk of slower productivity growth, job and investment displacement and weakened ability to attract high-tech foreign investment.

Electricity demand

A separate KPMG report from February cited Dublin as the host of Europe’s second largest data centre cluster, with a reported 1,150 megawatt (MW) in operation, just short of London. While this heaps additional pressure on the national grid, the government report stated that it’s important to recognise that countries such as Germany and the UK have large heavy-industry bases driving their electricity demand. Ireland’s industrial electricity use is concentrated in supporting our digital economy, this is our core industry, the report outlined.

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