That's funny. How many years behind is the EU in having a LEO constellation that could support direct-to-cell? 6 years at the earliest but that's optimistic.
It's about independence, not innovation. Europe would have no need for this if the US hadn't gone rogue state. You make it sound like a race but it was just one guy running. Now it's two. And for deployment the EU schedule seems to be on par with SpaceX timeline, so it seems like the hottest company in the world only operates at bureaucratic EU snails pace.
probably not - there are too many compradors in the Europe. The only truly Gaullist leaders are somehow also MAGA-tards, who are in their own way Atlanticists at heart.