EU Set to Accelerate Digital Agenda with July Parliamentary Decision

The European Parliament is poised to cast their vote on a technology autonomy proposal presented by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) led by pro-Bitcoin legislator Sarah Knafo.

ITRE, one of the 24 standing committees in the European Parliament, on June 3 endorsed a non-binding document regarding tech autonomy and digital infrastructure, advocating for a European policy for the digital ecosystem.

The proposal emphasizes worries that Europe is lagging behind the United States and China in crucial areas such as the cloud, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and communication networks.

The document recommends removing obstacles to private investment in innovation, encouraging energy-efficient computing and blockchain frameworks, and protecting privacy in digital finance.

Parliament vote anticipated in July

According to information from ITRE, the European Parliament is likely to vote on the proposal in the forthcoming plenary session.

Knafo, a pivotal supporter of the proposal, informed Cointelegraph that the voting is expected to take place during the July session.

“If all the right-wing parties support the text, which they typically should, we have a solid chance to gather a majority,” Knafo stated. “However, left-wing parties are exerting pressure on the center-right party to impede it. We’ll see if they stand their ground.”

Knafo stressed that the report is not yet a legally enforceable piece of legislation and is intended to outline political directives only.

Is the EU on the brink of a digital transformation?

“I firmly believe that we are still at the very onset of the digital transformation. To date, Europe is trailing behind, to put it mildly,” Knafo remarked, adding:

“We possess all the skilled engineers and scientists necessary to catch up with the US and China. We just require an appropriate political framework to enable them to thrive in Europe.”

While Knafo is optimistic regarding the possibilities for a digital transformation in the EU, some analysts hold a less hopeful view on the results.

Related: Digital euro, not MiCA, pivotal to managing crypto risks: Bank of Italy chief

Skeptics within the French media outlet Frontières expressed appreciation for Knafo’s endeavors but question whether the proposal will attain the backing of a majority of the parliament’s 720 representatives.

“Transformation will arise from the nations. Transformation will emerge from the people. AfD [Alternative for Germany], Poland, Hungary, Netherlands. It’s hesitant but it moves,” wrote one commentator.

Knafo’s opposition to the digital euro

Knafo’s promotion of tech autonomy follows her vocal dissent against the European Central Bank’s (ECB) intentions for a digital euro. In a speech to the European Parliament in late 2024, she instead called for a Bitcoin (BTC) strategic reserve.

“No to the digital euro, yes to a strategic Bitcoin reserve,” Knafo asserted in her remarks to the European Parliament last December.

Nonetheless, the European Union has pursued a contrary direction. ECB officials, including Piero Cipollone underscore the pressing requirement for the digital euro to counter the burgeoning adoption of US dollar stablecoins.

In January 2025, ECB President Christine Lagarde also rejected the notion of establishing a Bitcoin reserve, insisting that central bank reserves must be “liquid, secure, and safe.”

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