ABSTRACT
Economic dependencies, and technological dependencies in particular, have become a threat to both the EU's economy and autonomous policymaking. We argue that technological dependency is different from mutual interdependence, the latter arising naturally in an increasingly globalised economy. When dependence is one-sided, the superior economic partner can exploit its technologically superior position to harm the economic interests of the weaker partner, i.e., the EU. Similarly, even mutual dependencies are dangerous if foreign governments are not concerned with the welfare of its citizens. The empirical analysis shows that the technological dependence of the EU has increased considerably over the past decades, especially in digital technologies. On the other hand, the high technological performance of the EU in some green technologies suggests that the EU's dependence varies between technologies and global value chains. Its strong scientific base, coupled with forward-looking industrial policies, should enable the EU to foster its technological sovereignty. The Galileo system is one example where such policy was successfully implemented. Positive results such as these require, among other things, strategic technological intelligence, an EU-wide consensus on industrial policy objectives and appropriate funding at the EU level.
