The European Commission outlined its ambition to drive European business and government productivity via cloud computing. The EC believes cloud computing could deliver a net gain of 2.5 million new European jobs, and an annual boost of EUR 160 billion to EU GDP (around 1%), by 2020.
Key points of the strategy include:
- Cutting through the jungle of technical standards so that cloud users get interoperability, data portability and reversibility; necessary standards should be identified by 2013;
- Support for EU-wide certification schemes for trustworthy cloud providers;
- Development of model ‘safe and fair’ contract terms for cloud computing contracts including Service Level Agreements;
- A European Cloud Partnership with Member States and industry to harness the public sector’s buying power (20% of all IT spending) to shape the European cloud market, boost the chances for European cloud providers to grow to achieve a competitive scale, and deliver cheaper and better eGovernment.
“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. We must achieve critical mass and a single set of rules across Europe. We must tackle the perceived risks of cloud computing head-on,” stated EC Vice-President Neelie Kroes.