The United States developed the internet primarily for defense purposes before it's spread to the academic sector, and then to the world wide web. It retains control over what has become a key to the global economy.

Now is seems the EU wants to exert control over this resource, and it is quit firm in it's intent. This is another example of the soft power the EU exerts in today's world. As this article points out, whoever controls the internet holds the key to access to a critical feature of the global economy.