# Microsoft outage reignites Europe's tech independence push

> A global Microsoft outage affecting millions has prompted European leaders to call for control over their own digital infrastructure and AI development.
- Title: Microsoft outage reignites Europe's tech independence push
- Summary: A global Microsoft outage affecting millions has prompted European leaders to call for control over their own digital infrastructure and AI development.
- Keywords: microsoft, outage, digital sovereignty, european infrastructure, artificial intelligence, tech independence, arthur mensch, mistral, emmanuel macron, ursula von der leyen, POLITICO
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/microsoft-outage-renews-european-calls-to-detox-from-us-tech
- Published: 2026-11-13T17:32:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: microsoft, outage, digital sovereignty, european infrastructure, artificial intelligence, tech independence, arthur mensch, mistral, emmanuel macron, ursula von der leyen, politics, world
## Microsoft outage hits 74 countries
Friday's widespread Microsoft outage lasted nearly twenty four hours and affected millions of users across seventy four countries, shutting down Outlook email and Teams messaging.
## Only twenty percent of European digital services run on European infrastructure
Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch told EU national leaders at their first ever meeting on artificial intelligence in Dublin that Europe relies heavily on foreign technology.

> Only 20% of European digital services run on European infrastructure
## Macron calls for European independence
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that Europe's independence cannot be outsourced and must be built at home, especially for artificial intelligence.

> Our independence cannot be outsourced. It must be built here at home, in Europe
## European leaders push for digital sovereignty
German lawmaker Johannes Schätzl and others argue the outage shows Europe must reduce reliance on a handful of global tech giants and support European technology in government contracts.

> Digital sovereignty must be measured by whether we can remain operational even during outages like this
## Key takeaway

European leaders are using Friday's Microsoft outage to renew calls for digital sovereignty and reduced dependence on US technology companies.