Cloud Sovereignty Criteria in Europe

Assessing Cloud-Sovereignty

Europe needs a coherent and practical approach to cloud sovereignty that strengthens security, resilience, and trust without undermining openness, innovation, or competitiveness. In this paper, Bitkom outlines key considerations for defining and assessing cloud sovereignty criteria in Europe, drawing on recent initiatives such as the EU Cloud Sovereignty Framework and the German Federal Office for Information Security’s (BSI) Criteria Enabling Cloud Computing Autonomy (C3A).

We argue for a risk-based and use-case-specific approach that combines clear minimum requirements with flexibility, interoperability, and freedom of choice. The paper highlights the importance of transparent and proportionate assessment models that recognise technical safeguards, operational resilience, and global supply-chain realities while remaining aligned with international trade commitments and existing EU legislation.

Ultimately, Bitkom advocates for sovereignty frameworks that support Europe’s digital resilience and strategic autonomy without leading to fragmentation, unnecessary bureaucracy, or technological isolation.