The Commissioner responsible for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, highlighted in a speech given at the World economic forum in Davos, that the EU needs to act to support speedy uptake of Cloud Computing in Europe. She also insisted that is key to act through joint public procurement across borders, especially bearing in mind that public IT procurement is large but fragmented.

Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission and responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe, has been at the World Economic Forum which is held from 25 to 29 January in Davos, Switzerland. Ms Kroes stressed the importance of supporting Cloud Computing in Europe. According to the Commission's Vice President, Cloud Computing can bring significant productivity benefits to all, right through to the smallest companies, and also to individuals. It promises scalable, secure services for greater efficiency, greater flexibility, and lower cost.

Last year, she announced the Commission's plan to launch a Cloud Computing Strategy that would make Europe not just Cloud-friendly but Cloud-active. The parts involved in this issue have participated in consultations which were launched in May 2011. Much work has also been done by interested parties in Europe and with major trading partners to identify the main issues that need to be addressed. So far, according to Ms Kroes, the results show that many still hesitate before the Cloud.

Therefore, in order to ensure Europeans, she enjoyed the occasion to invite public authorities and industry, Cloud buyers and suppliers, to come together in a European Cloud Partnership. The Partnership will come up with common requirements for Cloud procurement. For this it will look at standards, at security and at ensuring competition. The Commission will launch the Partnership with an initial investment of 10 million euros. It will be set up in 2012 and first results in 2013.