Brussels Tried to Ditch Microsoft Teams — Its Own Officials Called the Backup 'Absolute Shit'
TECH SOVEREIGNTY Brussels has a backup plan for the day Microsoft switches off. It is called Element Pro, it runs on the Commission's own servers, and it is supposed to keep the European Union's government functioning if American technology becomes unavailable. There is just one problem: the EU officials who are supposed to use it think it is, in one staffer's immortal phrase, "absolute shit." Published October 3, 2026 · By Daniel Rao Photo: The Berlaymont building in Brussels, seat of the European Commission. Over the summer the Commission rolled out Element Pro as a "sovereign back-up to Teams" — and its own officials are not impressed. Credit: tpholland / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. Brussels has a backup plan for the day Microsoft switches off. It is called Element Pro, it runs on the Commission's own servers, and it is supposed to keep the European Union's government functioning if American technology becomes unavailable. There is...