Europe is a major market for AI data centres, but overseas companies supply most of the chips, servers and cloud infrastructure used there. A Global Electronics Association report says this leaves Europe capturing little of the economic value and creates a strategic dependence in infrastructure that supports essential services and industry.

EU-headquartered firms account for just six per cent of the bloc’s data-centre semiconductor market, seven per cent of server manufacturing and assembly, and eight per cent of cloud infrastructure. The EU’s planned Cloud and AI Development Act aims to at least triple data-centre capacity within five to seven years; the report urges the bloc to use that demand to attract investment and production from global suppliers, while building links with European firms and research organisations. It argues that servers are now the electronics industry’s main growth driver and could be its largest segment by 2030, but acknowledges that reversing Europe’s dependence will require coordinated policy and sustained political will.