Munich 2026 elevates cyber and AI to core EU security priorities

As reported by The Next Web, leaders at the 62nd Munich Security Conference on 13 February 2026 repositioned cyber, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure from policy considerations to core national security priorities. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and senior European cyber and intelligence figures framed the shift as a response to rising hybrid threats and what delegates described as "post-World War II order is fraying".

What changed in Munich

The conference made technology a pillar of European security strategy, not an afterthought. Discussions called for greater powers and cooperation to counter hybrid threats and signalled that governments will use procurement, standards and coordinated investment to reduce strategic dependency on non EU providers. Delegates talked about the prospect of a formalised intelligence sharing mechanism, with one participant describing a desire for an "own Five Eyes" capability to improve operational collaboration between European services.

This reframing draws a straight line from recent regulatory work such as the AI Act to a more integrated security posture. For years EU policy emphasised digital sovereignty through regulation, competition rules and data protection. The Munich debate adds defence and operational resilience to that toolbox. Expect policymakers to press for certification schemes adapted to defence and critical infrastructure, procurement rules that prefer interoperable, defence compatible technology, and targeted funding to boost chip manufacturing, cyber capabilities and domestic research.

The shift also exposes tensions. Deepening European autonomy will require balancing continued cooperation with US allies and preserving open markets and civil liberties. Security authorities will push for stronger controls and rapid information sharing, while privacy regulators and industry groups will press for safeguards and market access. That friction will shape how fast and how far the EU moves toward procurement preferences and interoperable standards for critical systems.

Why This Matters

Procurement and certification will become practical levers for security, which changes vendor selection for public bodies and regulated industries. Teams running services on major US cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure should start auditing dependencies and data flows now, because national and EU procurement rules may soon favour cloud and infrastructure providers that meet specific data residency, certification and interoperability requirements. For companies that want to keep EU contracts, evaluating providers like OVHcloud or other EU based alternatives that prioritise local data controls and compliance will be a commercial necessity, not just a policy preference.

For technology and security leaders the immediate implication is clear. Begin aligning road maps to expected security standards, document where sensitive workloads sit, and plan for certification and possible migration windows. Governments will likely combine regulation, funding and procurement to steer demand toward domestically resilient suppliers, so early alignment will shorten procurement cycles and reduce operational friction.

Sources

The Next Web

Watch for policy proposals in the coming months that tie public procurement to security certification, new EU funding calls for semiconductors and cyber capability building, and concrete proposals for enhanced European intelligence sharing.