Definitely agree with you here. It's insane to see one country sell all its energy providers —and communications, and infrastructure— to foreign interests. Some European countries have an unhealthy disdain for state control (and state ownership), which contaminated too many levels of the EU. So they end up playing by the rules when their competitors most definitely aren't.
It's not disdain for state control / ownership, but that officials are easily bribed and bought off. Add the historical reasons why EU was founded and voila.
Well the US only got cozy with big tech after it got big, not actually that different than EU policies you mention being around only existing big industries like automotive.
Only China has taken active steps in fostering those companies from nothing.
Big tech has been around for a long time it’s Big Tech FANG that’s new. Apple and Microsoft are not new companies. IBM is old school big tech that’s been cozy with the US Govt for a very long time. Fairchild was big with the government before they produced their first silicon integrated circuit.
The Fairchild days would be the general military industrial complex at work, and it's emphasis on R&D, not a special affinity for the modern tech company. Europe also has its privileged deference contractor.
Like, the whole TikTok thing is being ridiculous, in my point of view.
For example, strategic assets for the EU are airlines, or automotive industry, it's where you've seen government intervention.
But I'm not saying it's a good thing! In my country China bought the only Energy company we had - how isn't this considered a strategic asset?
Sometimes I think EU is too naive, or the whole "trying to lead by example" doesn't work financially/growth wise.