Although the European Union (EU) has been caught between the United States (US)-China military and economic rivalry over the last decade, it is now starting to find its path, exploiting new technological opportunities arising. In detail, in the past few years, the EU has oriented its efforts towards several emerging technologies, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and last but not least, 5G. According to the European Commission, “5G provides virtually universal, ultra-high bandwidth, and low latency ‘connectivity’ not only to individual users but also to connected objects”. From the civilian perspective, the fifth-generation wireless technology can be applied to many different sectors, for instance, to connect automated mobility, eHealth and energy management. By accelerating and making connectivity more flexible, this generation will be at the centre of the future digital economy