Europe Launches “Europeum” Blockchain Initiative

On Tuesday, the European Union announced the establishment of a new organization, Europeum, aimed at integrating blockchain infrastructure to enhance data transfer and record-keeping among its 27 member states. This development emerged during a session with telecommunications ministers at the European Council in Brussels, coinciding with the approval of the EU’s landmark law on artificial intelligence.

Belgian State Secretary for Digitalisation, Mathieu Michel, emphasized the significance of Europeum, stating it will be “a tangible presence in the daily lives of European citizens.” The initiative is set to revolutionize how individuals and companies manage data, offering enhanced capabilities to trace product origins and protect intellectual property through immutable blockchain networks.

Michel highlighted that Europeum would facilitate the creation of digital identities, wallets, credentials, and licenses on the blockchain, promoting efficient automation of legal and bureaucratic processes through smart contracts. It also aims to support emerging technologies like the metaverse and the European Central Bank’s digital euro, underscoring the need for a sovereign infrastructure that ensures security, privacy, and interoperability.

The project, under the European Blockchain and Services Infrastructure, has been in development since 2017. Despite its ongoing pilot status—due to the European Commission’s lack of a legal basis to operate a blockchain directly for citizens—it has now transitioned into the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium. This multinational endeavor is part of Europe’s Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, backed by a substantial €165 billion fund to achieve its objectives.

While ten European member states, including Italy, Poland, and Greece, have committed to supporting the operational rollout of the EU blockchain, others like Germany and France remain non-committal yet supportive. With more nations expected to join, Michel reassured that Europeum would ensure that any data exchanged between nations, administrations, or companies remains secure and reliable for all users.

Europeum represents a strategic move by the European Union to establish a new sovereign digital infrastructure, reducing dependency on external entities like Amazon Web Services for critical digital functions. This initiative not only enhances the digital sovereignty of the EU but also sets a precedent for the future of digital interactions within the bloc.