EU Officials Trash New Microsoft Teams Alternative as Digital Sovereignty Push Continues

The European Commission has introduced an alternative to Microsoft Teams called Element Pro as part of its efforts to reduce reliance on US technology. However, officials have expressed disappointment with the new tool, with one describing it as 'absolute s, t.'

Element Pro is intended as a backup system in case Teams becomes unavailable. While some officials are skeptical about the need for an alternative, others praise the Commission's push for digital sovereignty.

The rollout of Element Pro comes amid growing concerns about reliance on US technology in the EU. France has announced plans to switch from American video-conferencing tools, and Austria's military has replaced Microsoft Office with a German-made alternative. The European Commission is hosting Element Pro on its own infrastructure rather than relying on Microsoft's cloud.