The European Commission has launched Element Pro as a sovereign alternative to Microsoft Teams. This new platform is intended to serve as a backup communication tool in case Teams becomes unavailable. However, Commission officials have expressed significant dissatisfaction with Element Pro. Some question its necessity and overall functionality, with one user describing it as "absolute shit." Another official believes that if the U.S. were to disable its technology, Element Pro's performance would make it an ineffective fallback. The Commission hosts Element Pro on its own infrastructure, granting more control over data and systems. Element is a UK company whose software is utilized by European governments and public sector bodies. The CEO of Element stated that the Commission is still trialing the platform and acknowledged potential "teething issues" and "cognitive dissonance" during adoption. He also highlighted its use by organizations like the UN and NATO. France is also moving its civil servants away from American video-conferencing tools, and Austria's military has adopted a German-made office suite.