EU-27 · November 2026

How much of Europe runs on Europe?

Europe buys much of its energy, its computer chips, its cloud storage and even its films from other countries. That works while relations are good. When they turn sour, the seller gets a say in what Europe can do.

This index measures how far Europe could manage on its own, across five areas. It is scored out of 100.

48.2
out of 100

Each star on the flag is worth a twelfth of the score. Europe has lit just under six.

Why it matters

2021

A chip shortage stalled car production across Europe.

2022

Cuts to Russian gas sent energy prices to record highs.

15%

Share of Europe's cloud market held by European providers.

Next to the US and China

First edition · 10 Nov 2026Eurostat · European Commission · EDA · IFPI · Reuters Institute · SIPRI
← Index

EU · US · China

The same five areas, scored for three economies. Where Europe's data has no equivalent, the US and China use the closest available measure.

European Union
48.2

Five areas

United States
73.6

Five areas

China
73.0

Four areas. No comparable media data, so Information is left out.

Compare the five areas

EUUSChina

Open an area to see the figures behind each score and how the measures differ. Read the comparison caveats →

Research snapshot · 10 Nov 2026Download the figures and sources ↗
← Index

Method

How the scores are built, and where they fall short.

The score

Five areas, equal weight

Each area is a fifth of the total.

Two halves

In four areas, half the points come from progress towards EU targets and half from independence: how much Europe supplies itself. Information averages four media shares instead.

Targets cap at 100

A target earns full points once it is reached. We average before rounding.

A reading, not a percentage

48.2 is an index score. It does not mean Europe is 48% sovereign.

Keep in mind

Years differ

We use the latest figure for each measure. Those range from 2023 to 2025.

Some choices are ours

Economy converts trade vulnerability with a logarithmic scale and a 0.10 reference. That is a trial scoring choice, not a policy target.

Information is different

There is no EU target for media, so this area scores observed shares only.

Samples, not everything

Several measures rely on samples: major orders, top charts, leading news brands. Small score differences should not be overread.

US & China

Different measures

Where EU data has no equivalent, the US and China use the closest proxy. Defense, for example, uses arms-trade balance from SIPRI.

China covers four areas

Comparable media data for China is incomplete, so its total averages four areas. Information is left out, not scored as zero.

Limitations by area

First edition · 10 Nov 2026Media evidence and country coding ↗