The EU Just Started Testing an Alternative to Microsoft Teams
The European Commission announced in early February 2026 that it’s running a pilot trial with Matrix, an open-source messaging protocol, to potentially replace or complement Microsoft Teams for internal communications. The explicit goal, according to EU officials: “de-risk from the US.”
This isn’t a speculative experiment. France already has 600,000 government officials using Tchap, a Matrix-based messaging system launched in 2024. Germany’s armed forces deployed BwMessenger to 100,000 military personnel back in 2020. The EU Commission is following a proven path, not blazing a new one.
Moreover, the timing matters. With 90% of EU cloud infrastructure running on US-owned hyperscalers and growing tensions over the US CLOUD Act—which allows American authorities to access European data stored on US servers regardless of physical location—the EU is making digital sovereignty a €1.5 trillion priority in 2026.
What Makes Matrix Different from Microsoft Teams
Matrix is an open-source protocol, not a product. Think of it like email (SMTP) or the web (HTTP)—it’s a standard that anyone can implement. The Matrix.org Foundation, a London-based non-profit, maintains the specification. No single company controls the network.
Furthermore, the architecture is decentralized. Organizations run their own Matrix servers that communicate with each other. Messages are end-to-end encrypted using the same Double Ratchet Algorithm that Signal uses. Unlike Teams, where Microsoft controls the infrastructure, Matrix gives the EU full ownership of its communication stack.
16 Governments Are Already Using Matrix
The EU Commission isn’t the first to make this move. Sixteen governments now use Matrix-based systems, including NATO, Sweden, the United Nations, and the European Space Agency. Additionally, France became the first country to join the Matrix.org Foundation as a Silver member in October 2025.
Germany’s Bundeswehr deployment is particularly telling. The German armed forces chose Matrix specifically for “digital sovereignty” in real-time military communications—a use case where security and independence aren’t optional. Three years later, it’s still running.
However, the EU Commission pilot will initially position Matrix as a “complement and backup” to Teams, not an immediate replacement. Teams remains the primary collaboration platform for now. But the working link already established with the European Parliament suggests the ambition goes beyond just having a backup option.
Why This Matters Beyond the EU
The EU’s move is part of a larger trend. Specifically, a 2026 survey found that 61% of European CIOs want to increase their use of local cloud providers, and more than half say geopolitics will prevent them from leaning further on US-based hyperscalers. In November 2025, France and Germany launched a joint task force on European digital sovereignty.
Consequently, Europe’s tech spending is projected to exceed €1.5 trillion in 2026—a 6.3% increase driven by AI, cloud adoption, and what industry analysts call a “sovereignty-first” procurement strategy. The Atlantic Council describes Europe’s 90% dependence on US cloud infrastructure as a “single-shock-event security nightmare.”
If the EU Commission successfully migrates even part of its operations to Matrix, it sets a precedent. Enterprise IT leaders worldwide will start asking whether their reliance on Microsoft, Google, or Amazon creates strategic risk.
The Practical Challenges Are Real
Nevertheless, digital sovereignty sounds compelling until you have to retrain thousands of government workers on new software. Teams integrates deeply with Microsoft 365—Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, Office apps. Matrix implementations like Element are functional, but they don’t match Teams’ polish or ecosystem depth.
There’s also skepticism about whether this is genuine strategic shift or symbolic politics. The EU has talked about digital sovereignty for years. What makes this different? The €1.5 trillion budget and the fact that France and Germany are leading with actual deployed systems suggest this might be more than posturing.
Indeed, the pilot approach is smart. Starting Matrix as a complement and backup lets the EU test practical viability without burning bridges with Microsoft. If it works at scale, expansion follows. If it doesn’t, Teams remains in place.
What Happens Next
Watch the pilot results over the coming months. If the EU Commission reports positive outcomes, expect more European institutions to follow. Ultimately, the broader question isn’t whether Matrix is technically superior to Teams. It’s whether the EU can reduce its dependence on US tech infrastructure.
The answer will signal whether digital sovereignty is achievable policy or aspirational rhetoric. France’s 600,000 users and Germany’s three-year military deployment suggest it’s possible. The EU Commission pilot will show whether it’s scalable.
