Renew MEP Benoit Cassart has submitted a written parliamentary question to the European Commission, challenging whether the EU-Canada Digital Partnership could undermine the EU's push for strategic autonomy by creating new technological dependencies. The question, filed on 6 May 2026, targets the Commission's actions under the partnership, which aims to promote trustworthy AI and strengthen digital sovereignty.
whether the Commission's actions might ultimately jeopardise the EU's strategic autonomy by returning it to a state of technological dependence, and how the Commission will reconcile any such dependence with the EU's goal of strategic autonomy. The MEP does not provide concrete examples or numerical targets, but frames the issue as a fundamental tension between international digital cooperation and the EU's self-sufficiency objectives.
The question reflects a broader concern among some MEPs about the balance between external partnerships and internal autonomy, particularly in the digital domain. The Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal the policy direction regarding how the EU manages digital alliances without compromising its strategic goals.
Stakeholders impacted include EU tech firms that could face competition from Canadian counterparts, EU consumers who may benefit from broader digital services but also face data sovereignty risks, and EU policymakers who must navigate the trade-off between openness and autonomy. The Commission's reply will be closely watched by digital rights groups and industry representatives alike.
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