Brussels, 26/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 26 January, one year after announcing her intention to develop a European cloud computing strategy, the commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, opened the “European Cloud Partnership”. Speaking before the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland), the commissioner said the “stage is now set for a cloud-active Europe” that is effective and reliable, now that the European Commission has proposed new rules on the protection of personal data (see EUROPE 10539). The strategy “will boost SMEs specifically, cut costs for all, and help Europe get to grips with its copyright and piracy problems”, Kroes said. The Commission will make an initial €10 million investment for launching the partnership.
Cloud computing allows companies, public authorities and private individuals to gain access from a distance to their data and software via networks such as the internet. It also allows customer companies and public authorities to cut their costs and to benefit from high-tech services, it not being necessary for them to install and mange software and equipment on their own sites. It also promotes energy saving thanks to a more rational use of equipment. The public consultation exercise on cloud computing, launched on 16 May 2011, and the discussions that followed, have revealed that there was still distrust of the technology, mainly from small companies - although they would be the ones that would benefit the most. The commissioner said she was determined to reassure SMEs and to remove all barriers. In her view, there is no doubt that the cloud computing sector will listen keenly to any questions raised, as it is a “win-win” situation, to the benefit of all players. The first stage of the partnership aims to define common requirements for cloud procurement. In the second stage, the partnership will deliver proof of concept solutions for the common requirements. Finally, in the third phase, reference implementation will be defined. Commissioner Kroes expects good progress in setting up the partnership in 2012 and expects first results in 2013. (IL/transl.jl)