Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, in a written answer on 29 June 2026, defended the proliferation of data centres in Sicily against concerns of resource exploitation and energy colonialism, arguing that new EU legislation ensures sustainable development and local benefits. The answer, responding to a question by MEP Giuseppe Antoci (The Left), signals the Commission's intention to balance digital infrastructure expansion with environmental and social safeguards, impacting Big Tech operators, regional authorities, local communities, and EU energy consumers.
The question, submitted on 13 April 2026, raised fears that data centres in water-scarce Sicily would consume locally produced renewables meant for decarbonisation, entrenching non-European Big Tech dominance. Virkkunen's answer, however, offered no specific commitments for Sicily but pointed to the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) as the overarching framework. CADA, she noted, harmonises investment conditions for sustainable data centres and includes measures to ensure equitable access to resources, preventing hoarding by operators. The Commission is also developing a Data Centre Energy Efficiency Package, including a rating scheme for energy efficiency and possible minimum performance standards, building on the Energy Efficiency Directive.
Virkkunen emphasised that CADA does not override national or local permitting decisions but supports authorities in conditioning approvals on clear local benefits and enhances monitoring to detect imbalances. The answer reflects a policy orientation favouring EU digital sovereignty through regulated market growth rather than restrictive measures, with institutional follow-up expected via the ongoing public consultation on minimum performance standards and the implementation of CADA.
Big Tech operators face new sustainability requirements and non-discriminatory access rules, potentially raising compliance costs but providing regulatory clarity. Regional authorities gain tools to negotiate local benefits but may see limited autonomy in permitting. Local communities in peripheral regions like Sicily could see improved infrastructure and jobs, but risk continued resource strain if monitoring proves insufficient. EU energy consumers may benefit from more efficient data centres, but the net effect on renewable energy availability for public services remains uncertain.