Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, in a written answer on 22 July 2026, defended the EU's digital regulatory framework against criticism that it stifles innovation and drives investment away, while announcing a forthcoming Digital Fitness Check to assess the cumulative impact of digital rules. The answer, responding to a question from ECR MEP Piotr Müller, signals the Commission's intention to balance digital sovereignty with simplification and cost reduction for businesses.
Müller had argued that EU regulations, not just external threats, are harming the bloc's tech sector, and questioned whether the concept of digital sovereignty would lead to further market restrictions. Virkkunen acknowledged the need for simplification, citing the 2025 Omnibus proposals on AI, data, and cybersecurity, which are expected to cut at least EUR 5 billion in administrative costs by 2029. She also pointed to initiatives like the EU Business Wallets and the Digital Networks Act as having simplification at their core.
a Digital Fitness Check is now underway, and evaluations of the Digital Markets Act and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive are scheduled for 2026. Virkkunen emphasised that the Technological Sovereignty Package focuses on semiconductors, cloud, AI, open-source solutions, and sustainable energy, aiming to reduce critical dependencies while remaining open to international cooperation. The Commission's policy orientation thus balances security-driven sovereignty with market openness and regulatory simplification, directly impacting EU tech companies facing compliance costs, investors seeking clearer rules, and consumers reliant on global digital services. Institutional follow-up includes the fitness check results and the 2026 DMA evaluation, which will shape future legislative proposals.