---
title: "The EuroStack explained"
description: "EuroStack isn’t from the EU, but it might shape its future. A private initiative to build a sovereign, open European tech stack caught my attention."
url: "https://hoeijmakers.net/the-eurostack-explained/"
date: 2025-06-17
updated: 2025-08-20
author: "Rob Hoeijmakers"
site: "hoeijmakers.net"
language: "en"
tags: ["Europe"]
---

# The EuroStack explained

Lately, I’ve been asking myself a simple question: **what is the EU actually doing to build its digital future, beyond just regulating others**?

It started with a conversation about [digital sovereignty](https://hoeijmakers.net/sovereignty-without-soil/). One of those after-dinner talks where tech and politics blur. A friend mentioned something called the *EuroStack*, an initiative I hadn’t heard of before. The name alone was enough to pique my interest. I made a note to look it up.

At the same time, several clients had brought up similar themes:

- “Should we avoid American cloud platforms?”
- “What does European hosting *really* mean?”
- “Is there a ‘European alternative’ to the big tech stack?”

Sometimes the concern comes from a **compliance or defensive angle** — [GDPR](https://hoeijmakers.net/gdpr/), [AI Act](https://hoeijmakers.net/learning-to-work-with-the-eu-ai-act/), data locality. Other times it’s more **idealistic or nationalistic**: a wish to support European tech, align with EU values, or simply regain control over their digital infrastructure.

That’s when I decided to take a closer look.

## Enter EuroStack

EuroStack is a European initiative that aims to define and promote a **sovereign, open, interoperable digital infrastructure**. Not just through policy papers — but through action:

- Mapping and endorsing *actual tools*
- Coordinating procurement guidelines
- Encouraging open standards
- Building a directory of trustworthy digital services made and hosted in Europe

In other words, **not just "what not to do" (regulation), but "what to choose instead"**.

It’s a private–public collaboration, driven by independent tech leaders, policy thinkers, and companies like Proton, Ecosia, and Open-Xchange. They’re pushing for a modular “EuroStack” that could one day rival the dominance of US hyperscalers — not in size, but in **fit**: fit with European values, legislation, and long-term strategic goals.

## Why It Matters

As a digital strategist, I think this matters for two reasons:

1. **It’s a rare moment of opportunity.**If we want better tools — interoperable, privacy-respecting, standards-based — we need coordination. EuroStack might offer that.
2. **It’s already relevant for clients.**Whether it's schools, healthcare providers, public services, or mission-driven companies, **the appetite for European solutions is growing**, even if it's not always clear where to look.

That’s why I’m going to explore EuroStack more deeply in the coming months.Not just what it *wants* to be, but how it’s taking shape in practice. Where are the gaps? Who’s already aligned? And what would it mean to develop, procure, or recommend tools in this new ecosystem?

---

If you’ve come across EuroStack in your own work — or if you’re navigating the same questions — [I’d love to hear your thoughts](https://hoeijmakers.net/about/).

Let’s find out what a European digital stack could really mean.

---

**Related**
- [European industry demands Eurostack to power EU competitiveness](https://www.digitalsme.eu/european-industry-demands-a-eurostack-to-power-eu-competitiveness/)
- [From Shopping Cart to Server Rack: How Lidl Builds a European Cloud](https://hoeijmakers.net/lidl-stackit-european-cloud/)
- [Introducing Lumo: AI where every conversation is confidential | Proton](https://proton.me/blog/lumo-ai)