The European Parliament is preparing to take another step in its effort to reduce dependence on major U.S. technology companies by evaluating a transition away from Google as the default search engine within its internal systems.

According to a report by Politico, the European Parliament will begin using the French search engine Qwant as the default search option from June 4 when users conduct searches through the address bar in Firefox and Microsoft Edge browsers. Staff members will still be able to modify their settings or manually use any alternative search engine of their choice.

Digital Sovereignty Strategy Behind the Move

The change forms part of a broader European Union initiative centered on what policymakers describe as “digital sovereignty” — a strategy aimed at reducing reliance on digital infrastructure and services originating outside Europe, particularly those based in the United States.

According to an internal communication cited in the report, the objective of the move is to strengthen the protection of user data. The message described Qwant as a European search engine with a strong focus on privacy.

Part of a Wider European Technology Realignment

The search engine transition is not an isolated measure. It comes amid a series of broader European efforts to rebuild and strengthen the continent’s technology ecosystem.

In recent months, some government institutions across Europe have moved to reduce their reliance on operating systems in favor of open-source alternatives such as Linux. Other organizations have also explored replacing widely used meeting and collaboration tools with locally developed European solutions, including “Visio.”

At the same time, the European Commission is preparing a new package of policies designed to advance what it calls “technological sovereignty,” reflecting a growing emphasis on strategic control over key digital services and infrastructure.

Search Alternatives Gain Attention Beyond Europe

The search for alternatives to traditional search engines is not limited to Europe. Organizations and users worldwide have increasingly explored options beyond Google, particularly as artificial intelligence technologies become more deeply integrated into search results.

Reports have indicated that services such as DuckDuckGo have experienced a noticeable increase in usage following recent changes to Google Search, including the company’s expanded integration of AI-generated results into the search experience.