This chapter illustrates the development of a EU coherent digitization policy focused on the creation of the European Digital Library and of Europeana, respectively operative since 2010 and 2008. It argues that from the general legal framework of the EU digitization policy results that giving new digital life to European museums, libraries and archives was certainly intended to improve preservation and access to cultural heritage, but also, and importantly, to reinforce Europe’s symbolic prestige, cultural status and economic influence both within the EU, and in the global scenario, in the context of the cultural and economic competitiveness between the EU and usa. The chapter critically discusses the existing obstacles to European digitization of cultural heritage, such as the diversities between Member States with regard to copyright issues, as well as the shortcomings of the current digitization policy, noticing that while it needs support of large financing, when this is not available the risk may be the cutting off from this process of cultural heritage materials or institutions of provincial centres or local communities. The top-down approach of the current EU digitisation policy and Europeana is also questioned in its capability to contribute to a European identity and culture, because it risks producing a virtual forum without borders where cultural heritage is quickly consumed by the public, disconnected from its cultural and societal context.