Cloud? Yes – but let’s keep it sovereign.

Why Europe needs more than data centres with EU flags

It sounds reassuring: The data centre is in Frankfurt, the data stays within the EU, and there’s mention of GDPR. Sovereignty, right?

Not quite. What many organisations consider “digital independence” often turns out to be a façade. “Digital sovereignty” may be a buzzword – but too often, it lacks substance. While US hyperscalers decorate their cloud offerings with European labels, fundamental questions remain unanswered: Who has access? Who decides in a crisis? And who profits when data becomes a commodity?

Sovereignty is more than just location

Yes, physical infrastructure in Europe is important – but it’s not enough. Real digital sovereignty means retaining control over your data, your systems, and your decisions. That only works if the legal framework aligns with it.

Many cloud services with “Europe” in their name still fall under the US CLOUD Act or other non-EU jurisdictions. Which means: A US court can demand access to your data – even if it’s stored in Germany.

This isn’t a worst-case scenario. It’s reality.

Geopolitics is raising the stakes.

With Donald Trump potentially returning to power, global tensions are back on the table. Can we rely on economic and legal stability? Not necessarily. At the same time, EU regulations like GDPR, the AI Act and the Data Act are pushing for transparency, interoperability, and legal certainty.

Here’s the problem: Many proprietary US-based cloud and AI platforms simply don’t meet those requirements. Organisations that stick with black-box platforms risk data protection issues – and could be excluded from public tenders, EU funding, and digital transformation initiatives. Sovereignty is no longer a “nice to have” – it’s a competitive advantage.

Sovereignty starts with technological autonomy

This is about more than laws. It’s also about technology. Open standards, open APIs and interoperable platforms form the basis for true flexibility – allowing organisations to switch providers and avoid vendor lock-in. Tying your entire value chain to a single hyperscaler means handing over strategic, technical and financial control.

Real independence begins with a conscious choice: to build a cloud architecture that aligns with European values, European standards – and European control.

Europe has what it takes – if it chooses to act

Alternatives do exist. And they don’t come from across the Atlantic. Take IONOS: a cloud platform developed, hosted and operated in Germany – and fully under European control for years. No third-country access, no licensing traps, no legal grey areas. Instead: transparent pricing, certified security, open source technologies and full legal clarity.

Public institutions are proving it’s possible. The dPhoenixSuite platform – running on IONOS Cloud – shows how modern digital government services can be built on sovereign ground. The “AI Model Hub” by IONOS is launching European AI models that are GDPR-compliant, explainable, and open. This isn’t a promise. It’s already happening.