Save EU’s telecom, networks and AI know-how before it’s gone – ACT NOW for EU's digital sovereignty!

Petizione indirizzata a: Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Friedrich Merz | President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron | President of the European Commission, Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen | Minister-President of Bavaria, Mr. Dr. Markus Söder

Save EU’s telecom, networks and AI know-how before it’s gone – ACT NOW

While many people associate Nokia with its historic role in mobile phones, today the company is one of the key European providers of network infrastructure, including 5G and future communication technologies. Every wireless data transfer relies on this infrastructure to reach its destination. As one of the two European vendors, if not the only, in this field, Nokia plays a central role in ensuring Europe’s connectivity is built on European standards, laws, and values, including strong data protection and privacy.
Therefore it is deeply concerning to read about the recent decisions affecting Nokia’s integrity in the EU — including the planned closure of the Munich site by 2030 and the layoff of hundreds of employees in Germany, France, Italy, Greece and more. These actions weaken one of Europe’s vital strategic technology providers at a time when the EU is actively working to strengthen its sovereignty from China and the US.
According to a 2025 European Parliament report A10-0107/2025, the EU currently relies on non-EU countries for more than 80% of its digital products, services, and infrastructure. This dependence poses significant security risks.
Telecommunications infrastructure is a cornerstone of Europe’s digital sovereignty. Yet today, firms such as Huawei and ZTE supply a large share of Europe’s 4G/5G networks: approximately 41% of European 5G subscribers rely on Chinese-built equipment, and 59% of Germany’s 5G RAN is sourced from these providers. Infrastructure not fully controlled by European entities undermines the union’s ability to secure its communications, protect sensitive data, and maintain technological independence.
Despite being the largest EU-based telecom vendor, Nokia’s future is now threatened by the scale of these site closures and workforce reductions. If this trajectory continues, Europe risks losing one of its only two major telecom vendors, leaving EU operators (such as Deutsche Telekom and Orange) with no deeply rooted EU-based choice for supplying critical network infrastructure.
This gets even worsened by the latest announcements of Ericsson, targeting a reduction of 1,600 positions in its homeland Sweden.
 
We therefore call for urgent attention and action at both EU and national levels to protect Europe’s technological sovereignty and ensure that essential EU-based vendors like Nokia can continue to operate, innovate, and compete. If no action is taken, the know-how, skills, and competitiveness that originated in Europe will be lost, leaving the EU in a weakened political and technological position in one of the most critical strategic domains while EU’s traditional allies are turning their backs on us.
Europe’s digital future depends on maintaining control over the infrastructure that keeps it connected.
 
This petition will be handed to the following political representatives:
 
-         Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Friedrich Merz
-         President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron
-         President of the European Commission, Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen
-         Minister-President of Bavaria, Mr. Dr. Markus Söder