European search is no longer just a niche or a statement – it works. Ecosia and, to a lesser extent, Qwant deliver solid results, good  performance and meaningful privacy advantages. But the reality is more complex: core search infrastructure still depends heavily on Google and Bing, and true independence will take time. This article evaluates today’s European search engines in detail and explores Staan, the emerging European search index, to separate genuine progress from optimistic assumptions.