EU officials slam Microsoft Teams alternative as poorly performing

The European Commission has been testing Element Pro, a self-hosted alternative to Microsoft Teams, as part of its efforts to reduce reliance on American tech. However, EU officials are far from impressed with the new platform, with one calling it "absolute sh*t" on an internal message board. The criticism highlights how deeply integrated Teams has become in government operations, despite its known issues, such as high RAM usage and performance lag.

Element Pro, developed by London-based company Element, is designed to provide a sovereign backup for Teams, hosted on the Commission’s own infrastructure. The move aligns with the EU’s push for "digital sovereignty," aiming to minimize disruption and reduce risks associated with foreign-controlled platforms. However, the transition has been rocky, with officials struggling to adapt to the new system and questioning its value compared to Teams.

One official warned that if the US ever decided to cut off access to Microsoft’s services, "they would instantly win the war," underscoring the critical role Teams plays in EU operations. Meanwhile, Microsoft Teams itself faces criticism for its resource-heavy design, built on WebView2, which consumes significant RAM even when idle. Despite these flaws, Teams remains the preferred choice for many EU staff, illustrating the challenge of transitioning to alternative platforms.

Element’s CEO, Matthew Hodgson, acknowledged the "teething issues" with the new software but also noted the difficulty of switching from a widely used app like Teams. The situation reflects broader geopolitical tensions, as international bodies like the UN and NATO explore similar sovereign solutions, while countries like France and Austria move away from US tech platforms.