Quick thoughts digital rights implications in the EU budget 2028-2034

For those working towards a European Digital Rights Fund similar to the Open Tech Fund, or a European Sovereign Tech Fund (modelled after the Sovereign Tech Agency in Germany) the MFF can bring some budget lines. Or does it?

Diego Naranjo

7/17/20251 min read

EU flag image generated by Yanni Koutsomitis https://flickr.com/photos/ykoutsomitis/
EU flag image generated by Yanni Koutsomitis https://flickr.com/photos/ykoutsomitis/

I managed to go through the published document (here: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/26ff3426-b1db-44d5-ad9c-a646febb3222_en?filename=COM_2025_570_1_EN_ACT_part1_v6.pdf)

I see two potential areas (but if anyone here is a EU budget expert please do correct me!):

🌍 Option 1: Global Europe: The MFF states that the "EU must redesign and strengthen its external action financing" "be better targeted to

our partners and address urgent needs on the ground." I cannot think of a better targeted action than an European Digital Rights Fund following the examples of the Open Technology Fund - See my latest op-ed here https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2025/04/01/si-les-gouvernements-democratiques-ne-reagissent-pas-ce-sont-les-regimes-autoritaires-qui-decideront-de-l-avenir-d-internet_6589391_3232.html and an older (not paywalled) one here: https://edri.org/our-work/the-threat-on-otf-as-a-wake-up-call-for-european-digital-sovereignty/

The MFF says that such a fund "should support the Union’s strategic

interests on the global stage by channelling funds towards key political priorities and adapting flexibly to evolving circumstances. A reinforced EUR 200 billion Global Europe instrument will be the basis for this action" and mentions "cybersecurity, Foreign Information, Manipulation and Interference", many of them goals of the OTF already.

🇪🇺 💻 2) The new European Competitiveness Fund: Here I want to read "European Sovereign Tech Fund", similar to the German Sovereign Tech Agency but at the EU Level.

The MFF sates that "this fund will draw together investment firepower at EU level to accelerate the scaling-up, manufacturing and deployment of strategic technologies in Europe (...)= including by supporting ‘made in Europe’ technologies, products and services. "

I may be reading all of this optimistically. We can check with EU public officers if we're reading this correctly or not (while doubling down our efforts at the national level)