The European Union has introduced Element Pro, an alternative to Microsoft Teams, as a backup plan in case of a potential technological disruption from the United States. The tool, hosted on EU servers, is designed to ensure uninterrupted communication within the European Commission should Microsoft restrict access to its services. Internal messages from Commission staff, obtained by Politico, reveal mixed reactions to the new platform. One employee questioned its "added value," while another described it as "absolute shit." A third compared Element Pro to Microsoft Teams, suggesting that in the event of a technological conflict, the United States would "instantly win." Another user referenced the term "Microslop," a nickname for Microsoft that emerged from criticism of its AI strategy and was previously removed from Discord servers. Element Pro, referred to in an internal memo as a "sovereign backup solution to Teams," is intended to take over in case of disruptions. It offers features such as audio and video calls, file sharing, and project-specific channels, similar to Microsoft's M365 Teams. Its main advantage lies in the hosting, which is managed on the Commission's own servers rather than in Microsoft's cloud. A memo sent to staff in July outlined the framework for the transition. Digital sovereignty has become a growing concern for the EU, with a focus on greater control over data and systems to minimize risks and reduce work disruptions. Previously, Signal was used as a backup communication tool, but it was considered too rigid for the Commission's needs. The concern over potential disconnection is not new; in 2025, after sanctions by Donald Trump, Karim Khan, then prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, lost access to his Microsoft messaging service. Microsoft denied suspending its services, but the court has since moved to the German openDesk suite. Element, a British company, builds its software on Matrix, an open and decentralized protocol. Users of Tchap, the French government's messaging app, which was recently hacked, and soldiers in the German Bundeswehr using BwMessenger, unknowingly use Matrix. NATO also employs a customized version called NI2CE. When contacted by Politico through its own software, Element's CEO noted that the Commission is still in the trial phase and anticipates "some growing pains" and "cognitive dissonance," particularly due to changes in interface design. The transition from a widely used platform like Teams is always challenging. Details of the contract with Element have been kept confidential, with the Commission requesting that certain aspects of the subscription be kept private. France is also preparing a transition, planning to move its staff away from Teams and Zoom to Visio, developed by the DINUM, by 2027.