# European governments struggle to reduce dependence on US technology

_Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 4:09 AM EDT · Policy, Tech & Business · Latest · Tier 2 — Notable_

European officials are attempting to lessen their reliance on American technology companies but face significant challenges in doing so. The efforts come amid concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump could leverage the longstanding dependence for political purposes.

Alexander Scholtes, who leads Amsterdam's initiative to shift away from U.S. tech, acknowledged the difficulty of the task. Despite advocating for reduced dependency, he continues to use Microsoft software regularly, illustrating the pervasive presence of American technology in European operations.

Governments across the continent are actively working to establish alternatives to major U.S. cloud providers and enterprise software vendors. However, the transition remains complicated by the entrenched position of American companies in critical infrastructure and daily administrative functions.

## Sources

- [Politico](https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-big-tech-donald-trump-alexander-scholtes-breakup-still-hooked/)

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