Technology

BRUSSELS — The European Commission has rolled out an alternative to Microsoft Teams — but officials using it aren't impressed, with one describing the tool as “absolute shit.”

The Commission introduced Element Pro over the summer as a “sovereign back-up to Teams,” according to an internal staff memo seen by POLITICO. The platform is intended to provide a fallback for Commission communications if U.S.-based Teams becomes unavailable.

While Teams remains the Commission’s main communications tool, Element Pro is an “internal back-up ... that helps ensure our business continuity” in the event of a “disruption,” the memo says.

But three officials have questioned why the Commission needs the new system — and whether it works well enough to serve as a genuine backup.

“I don’t understand the added value here,” one official wrote on an internal staff message board, seen by POLITICO. Another described the tool as “absolute shit.”

A third official said that, judging matters on how well Element Pro works compared to Teams, the U.S. would “instantly win the war” if it ever decided to switch off its technology. All the officials were granted anonymity to speak freely.

The rollout comes as the Commission seeks to reduce its reliance on U.S. technology amid a broader push for European “digital sovereignty.”

“In recent months, digital sovereignty has become increasingly important,” the Commission told staff in a July memo. “In practice, this means having greater control over our data and systems so that we can reduce risks and limit disruption to our work, wherever possible.”

The Commission hosts the Element system on its own infrastructure rather than relying on Microsoft’s cloud. That gives the institution greater control over its communications data and systems.

“That is not the case with Teams, where all we have is a guarantee that Microslop will not peek inside,” a fourth official wrote, presumably referring to Microsoft, in internal communications viewed by POLITICO.

Element is a U.K. company whose software is used by governments and public-sector organizations in Europe. The application works much like Teams, allowing staff to hold “audio and video calls with Commission colleagues, send and receive files, and create dedicated ‘rooms’ for projects and conversations, much like chats and channels in M365 Teams,” according to the Commission memo.

The Commission is not alone in reducing reliance on U.S. technology. Earlier this year, France announced that millions of civil servants will stop using American video-conferencing tools, including Microsoft Teams and Zoom, by 2027 and switch to a homegrown alternative. Austria's military also replaced Microsoft Office with the German-made LibreOffice last year. The Commission hosts the Element system on its own infrastructure rather than relying on Microsoft’s cloud. | Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

Element CEO Matthew Hodgson told POLITICO in a call using Element software that the Commission is still trialing it.

“Obviously there are going to be some teething issues,” he said, adding there will always be “cognitive dissonance” when switching to a new app, if only because the “buttons” are in a different place. He noted that the United Nations and NATO also use Element Pro.

“Change is always painful, particularly if it's a switch from a much-used program like Teams,” he said, adding that Element was supporting the EU throughout the rollout and wanted to hear all feedback, good or bad.

The Commission asked Element not to share certain details with POLITICO regarding its subscription to the software, a spokesperson for the company said.

The Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.