- CISPE launches Sovereign Cloud Manifesto, suggesting:
- Public buyers must justify non-EU Clouds
- EU Cloud Credits to back local providers
- Certified “sovereign” services get visibility
- Federated EU Clouds to boost competition
- Hyperscalers face “use-it-or-share-it” energy rules
Fears that hyperscalers will squeeze the life out of the European Cloud market have prompted an industry response—and if you’ve spent the summer chilling by the pool, you may have missed the launch of the Sovereign Cloud Manifesto by CISPE, the Cloud Infrastructure Service Providers in Europe association.
It’s a simple proposition. EU Cloud users – whether public agencies or private companies – shouldn’t be dependent on infrastructure controlled by foreign governments or tech giants with opaque terms of service.
The Manifesto lays out a blueprint for clawing back a bit of autonomy. Not with slogans and threats, but with 20 practical actions across five key themes, aimed at rebalancing the Cloud market in the EU’s favor.
Here are the five themes and what they mean for the Cloud ecosystem:
Reform of EU procurement rules to support European Cloud providers
Public spending should contribute to Europe’s digital sovereignty and strategic resilience
The manifesto calls for reforms to EU procurement rules, because let’s face it: EU taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for hyperscaler dominance. If a government wants to buy Cloud services from an American firm, fine – but they’ll need to justify why no home-grown option fits the bill. And that justification should be published for everyone to see. Transparency, accountability, and maybe some questionable optics.
To level the playing field, CISPE wants to launch Sovereign Cloud Credits – basically, vouchers for EU startups, researchers, and SMEs to spend on EU-based Cloud services. It’s the same tactic the big boys use to reel in customers, just flipped around to boost the local ecosystem.
Promote visibility and recognition of certified sovereign Cloud solutions
Enhance the accessibility and trustworthiness of European Cloud alternatives
It’s hard to choose EU providers if nobody knows they exist. The manifesto suggests a push to define and certify what counts as a “sovereign” service – spoiler: you’ll need full control under EU jurisdiction. Certified players will then show up in every public tender by default. Add some promotional firepower to that, and suddenly the European Cloud doesn’t look so invisible.
Build composable, secure, and fair European Cloud ecosystems
Fostering competition, interoperability, and technological independence.
Europe’s Cloud landscape is more fragmented than the US’s, which is dominated by Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. But this need not be a problem. The manifesto embraces it, calling for “composable, federated ecosystems” – so multiple smaller providers can pool capabilities without handing over control. Think cross-border collaboration, simplified infrastructure deployment, and a big old ban on anti-competitive bundling, like AI platforms welded to proprietary Clouds.
Promote a sustainable and scalable Cloud sector
Align Europe’s Cloud infrastructure growth with the EU Clean Industrial Deal.
Point 4 of the manifesto calls for Cloud growth that’s green as well as scalable. So EU funding should be tied to standardised and measurable sustainability metrics – think energy efficiency, water use, and renewable integration – not vague carbon pledges. It also proposes incentives for upgrading hardware responsibly and tracking how much “useful work” data centres actually do. The aim? A future-proof Cloud sector that aligns with the EU’s climate goals without stalling innovation.
Use-it-or-Share-it: ensure fair and strategic allocation of energy resources
Prevent energy-based exclusion and support the deployment of European Cloud capacity.
Finally, CISPE gets stuck into energy policy. Right now, hyperscalers are quietly hoarding energy allocations for future data centres like dragons sitting on gold. CISPE says you use it or lose it. Reserve more than 100 megawatts and don’t build within 18 months? Time to give it back. And all of this should be on a live, public dashboard, so we can see who’s reserved how much and where.
An independent committee
The Sovereign Cloud Manifesto has been developed by the CISPE Sovereign Cloud Committee. Established at the request of CISPE members, and co-chaired by Leaseweb, it oversees and advises on initiatives, statements and policies that promote strategic autonomy and sovereignty within the European Cloud sector.
To join, members must not only align with CISPE’s European governance model but also certify independence from non-European government influence. Current members include organizations from Germany, Austria, France, Italy, and Spain.
Towards a more open Cloud market
CISPE says the five Manifesto themes aren’t designed to cut the EU off from the world – quite the opposite. They aim to make EU web service providers a viable, logical option for EU customers, just as the CMA tries to implement in the UK. They’ll help customers switch Clouds without legal knots or technical traps. They’ll ensure public services keep running, even if overseas powers start flipping switches.
The Manifesto is also a call for smarter regulation. Not more of it – just better. The forthcoming Cloud and AI Development Act (CAIDA) is shaping up to be a pivotal moment. Done right, it’ll bake sovereignty, sustainability and fair competition into the EU’s digital DNA. CISPE is laying the groundwork with this Manifesto.
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