This is the first part of a three-part series. Read part two here and part three here.

Sustainable, transparent, and inclusive — building a sustainable European cloud will foster prosperity, growth, and innovation across the continent.

Sustainable infrastructure that endures for decades

As digitalization becomes an ongoing process affecting nearly every aspect of our lives, Europe needs high-quality digital infrastructure that lasts for decades.

Digital computing power — comprising networks, computing processes, and data storage capacities — is the key ingredient for new emerging technologies. Infrastructure that produces sustainable and competitive digital computing power will attract global tech companies to build on Europe's backbone. At the same time, it must be affordable, easy to use, leverage existing European infrastructure, and create inclusive growth opportunities for the pan-European community.

The need for a European cloud

Today, Europe and its ecosystems possess all the necessary resources to assume a leading role in the global digital economy. This would benefit people — through the opportunities it can provide — and the environment — through the high sustainability standards of the EU.

Europe can leverage its strengths through renewable energy as well as strong innovation and research capacities. It’s not about owning or constructing new infrastructure; it's about creating a platform enabling digital companies and applications to unify, make accessible, and competitive Europe's existing infrastructure.

Creating a competitive and sustainable digital environment

This digital infrastructure will offer technology companies a competitive and sustainable digital environment with affordable resources and digital computing power.

Creating a cloud that is more cost-efficient and both economically and environmentally sustainable will also drive digital innovation across the continent. A European cloud will contribute to achieving the European Green Deal while accelerating its progress. Sustainable European cloud infrastructure is the foundation on which new sustainable software technologies and digital business models can be built.

A cloud embedding European values and offering better solutions

European values — including security, privacy respect, data protection, and accountability — are the compass for navigating the digital revolution. Built on a shared, federated digital infrastructure highlighting Europe's strengths, resilience, and diversity, it will offer transparency and inclusivity with strong decentralized structures available to all European tech companies, businesses, and communities.

Existing initiatives like GAIA-X, which aim for a common and unified marketplace for digital services, need a common sustainable, competitive European digital infrastructure. We are confident that the European cloud outlined here is a central enabler of this vision.

Strengthening diversity and consolidating Europe's digital economy

The digital infrastructure described above will also preserve Europe's diversity and create an open marketplace leading to a united and inclusive European ecosystem.

Already throughout Europe and globally, digital infrastructure is increasingly centralized into hyperscale data centers. According to the IEA, data centers' electricity consumption accounts for about 1% of global electricity demand. However, with increasing centralization comes growing concentration of power and influence — and less democratic control over data and transparency.

An analysis in Denmark found that by 2030, about 30% of the waste heat generated by hyperscalers could be used annually, equating to 2,500 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year. The EU's heating and cooling strategy highlights the need to decarbonize Europe's heating and cooling networks.

A European cloud that is sustainable, federated, open, and inclusive would ensure that the expansion of the digital economy does not lead to an increase in non-renewable sources for value creation.

A European cloud is possible. Let us start building it together.