Brussels, 15/102013 (Agence Europe) - To get the most from cloud computing, it should be easier to switch operator and more information should be available on possible risks in storing, processing and using data on remotely located computers accessed over the internet, stated the European Parliament industry, research and energy committee (ITRE) on 15 October when adopting the report by Pilar del Castillo (EPP, Spain). Del Castillo highlighted the huge potential of cloud computing: “Not only does cloud computing have the extraordinary potential of becoming a powerful accelerator in the completion of the digital internal market, it is also a powerful instrument for growth and employment”.
The reports calls on the European Commission to bring some order to the “jungle of standards” across the EU that make compatibility between systems difficult. The Commission should promote standards and specifications that support privacy-friendly, reliable, highly interoperable, secure and energy efficient cloud services as an integral part of a future European industrial policy. MEPs condemn the “lock-in effect”, when the user is forced to stay with one provider because it is too difficult to move to another, which could easily be ended by means of reasonable standardisation measures and improved transparency on intellectual property licensing agreements. The report will be put to the vote in the November plenary session. (IL/transl.fl)