European leaders fear the bloc is falling behind the United States and China in artificial‑intelligence capacity. A recent ING analysis shows the US will double its data‑centre stock by 2030, China will add 2.5 times its current footprint, while Europe is set to expand only about 75% of today’s capacity. The widening gap threatens the EU’s competitiveness in high‑growth digital sectors.

Tech CEOs from ASML, Airbus, Ericsson, Mistral AI, Nokia, SAP and Siemens used a joint op‑ed to demand lighter AI rules, arguing that Europe’s regulatory maze slows scaling while rivals already enjoy market‑penetration. They call for market‑driven subsidies, a revamped competition framework and a pan‑European savings vehicle to fund large‑scale projects. Negotiators aim to trim the 2024 AI Act.

To address power shortages, Sandbrook Capital launched Krios Infrastructure with a €200mn commitment, targeting grid‑connected sites capable of 300 MW to 1 GW for AI farms. Former National Grid chief John Pettigrew now advises the venture, echoing US‑style site‑selection models. Investors hope the new sites will accelerate Europe's AI roll‑out. The influx of dedicated capital signals Europe is beginning to close the AI infrastructure gap.