The European Commission detailed its new strategy to use cloud computing technologies to drive European business and government productivity.
The European Commission announced on Thursday details regarding its new strategy to use cloud computing technologies to drive European business and government productivity.
Though the European cloud computing field is currently experiencing significant growth, it is still relatively behind North American standards due to its different geopolitical characteristics and compliancy issues.
The EU recently funded the open source project OPTIMIS, which provides European service providers with a free toolkit to help build and run applications in the cloud.
The strategy for ?unleashing the potential of cloud computing in Europe? outlines steps to ultimately achieve a net gain of 2.5 million new European jobs, and an annual boost of EUR 160 billion to EU GDP by 2020.
The commission published a report that provides quantitative estimates of the financial impact of increasing cloud computing adoption in Europe, along with the likely barriers to uptake.
The strategy is designed to speed up and increase the use of cloud computing across the economy.
At a press conference held Thursday in Brussels, EU Commissioner for Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes told reporters that a large group of measures had already been taken to establish trust among users in cloud computing, as well as to jumpstart the European economy.
?Cloud computing is a game-changer for our economy. Without EU action, we will stay stuck in national fortresses and miss out on billions in economic gains,? said Kroes. ?We must achieve critical mass and a single set of rules across Europe. We must tackle the perceived risks of cloud computing head-on,? she told reporters.?
Kroes said the goal of the initiative is to not just to make Europe more ?cloud-friendly?, but rather, ?cloud active?.
The EU stands to gain a lot from an overall increase in cloud adoption. Small businesses will be able to provide a more convenient, tailored, flexible, and affordable service, while integrated public services could boost efficiency and reduce taxpayer cost, said Kroes.
The European Commission is currently taking three steps to boost confidence in cloud adoption.
The first step revolves around implementing standards and certification to help users evaluate and compare services, and know which ones to trust.
The second is to provide full transparency within contracts regarding how data is used in the cloud and liability issues so that users will know the contracts are safe and fair.
And finally, the last step is the launch of a new European cloud partnership in an effort to harness the public sector?s buying power, influence the emerging cloud market and ensure more efficient, effective e-government services.
The commission has already proposed a single set of data protection rules for Europe, and plans to propose a European strategy for cyber security in a few months.
?Europe needs to think big. The cloud strategy will enhance trust in innovative computing solutions and boost a competitive digital single market where Europeans feel safe,? said Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental rights & citizenship. ?That means a swift adoption of the new data protection framework which the Commission proposed earlier this year and the development of safe and fair contract terms and conditions.?
Talk back: Do you think it is a good idea for the European Commission to get involved with boosting cloud computing adoption? Do you think they will be successful in this initiative?
About Justin Lee
Justin Lee has been a staff analyst with theWHIR since 2004. He writes about a range of web hosting and IT-related issues facing the industry on the WHIR website, as well the print version of the WHIR magazine. Follow him on Twitter @Justin_theWHIR.
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