CEO of Europe's largest IT company does not agree with Europe's call of reducing dependance on Google, Microsoft and other US tech companies; says: Nobody has ... - The Times of India

February 16, 2026 - 07:11

The CEO of Europe's largest IT services firm, Capgemini, has publicly questioned the growing political drive for the continent to achieve technological independence from major U.S. tech giants. Aiman Ezzat, head of the Paris-based company, expressed skepticism towards calls for complete "strategic autonomy" in digital infrastructure and services.

Ezzat argued that an outright decoupling from American leaders like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon is neither practical nor desirable. He emphasized that global innovation thrives on collaboration and interconnected ecosystems, not isolation. "Nobody has achieved digital sovereignty behind closed borders," Ezzat stated, suggesting that Europe's focus should be on building its own strengths within the existing global framework rather than seeking total independence.

His comments strike at the heart of a long-running debate within the European Union, which has sought to reduce its reliance on foreign technology through regulations like the Digital Markets Act and investments in homegrown cloud and AI initiatives. Ezzat believes that European companies can compete and thrive by leveraging the best available technologies globally while developing specialized expertise, rather than by forcing a separation from established U.S. platforms. This perspective highlights a significant divide between the political ambitions for sovereignty and the pragmatic realities faced by leading European businesses operating on the world stage.