EU strategic autonomy in the field of digital social networks

Priority question for written answer P-000445/2026/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)

Over the past decade, social networks have become key infrastructure in the public space, with a major impact on democratic processes and on the shaping of political opinions.

The European digital space is now characterised by a structural dependence on social media platforms owned and operated by companies from outside the EU, and especially from the USA and China. This situation raises legitimate concerns not only about data protection and competition, but also about information sovereignty, democratic resilience and the Union's ability to protect its public space from foreign interference.

While other major world powers have developed cohesive strategies for their own digital ecosystems, the European Union remains primarily a regulator of the platforms of others, without any large-scale competitive European social media alternatives.

In view of the above, can the Commission clearly state:

• 1.How it views the EU's current level of dependency, from the perspective of safeguarding democracy?
• 2.What concrete measures it has in mind to boost the development of European social media platforms, and whether the development of such infrastructure is being assessed within the framework of the aims of open strategic autonomy?
• 3.How it intends to ensure consistency between acting as a regulator and building up the Union's own digital capacities?

Submitted: 4.2.2026