European cloud: digital sovereignty becomes a strategic priority

The debate around European digital sovereignty has gained new relevance with the proposal included in the Cloud and AI Development Act, which aims to strengthen the criteria for selecting cloud providers in critical public contracts. The goal is clear: to reduce dependence on major non-European technology companies and increase Europe’s ability to develop, operate and control its own digital infrastructure.

For years, cloud was mainly seen as a matter of efficiency, scale and cost. Today, it has also become strategic. Public data, critical services, artificial intelligence, data centres, software and computing infrastructure are part of the nervous system of the digital economy. When these elements depend almost exclusively on external providers, technological autonomy becomes limited.

Europe’s concern is not only about where servers are located. It also involves legal control, possible access to data by third countries, the origin of hardware and software, data centre energy efficiency and the ability to create competitive alternatives within the European space.

The European vision: build before depending

Europe seems ready to move beyond simply regulating global technology and to actively encourage the development of its own technology. Regulation is necessary, but it is not enough. True digital sovereignty requires companies, infrastructure, tools and technical knowledge capable of meeting the needs of European institutions, businesses and citizens.

This is why initiatives linked to European cloud, open software, artificial intelligence, chips and data centres are becoming increasingly relevant. The point is not to close Europe to the world, but to guarantee real freedom of choice and lower exposure to external decisions.

How BYDAS has already accepted this challenge

At BYDAS, this reflection is not theoretical. Over the last two years, we have been gradually and consistently moving our infrastructure towards European solutions. At server level, this process is now almost complete, with a clear reduction in our dependence on North American infrastructure.

We have also been adopting more European software whenever mature, secure and suitable alternatives exist for the agency and our clients. This path also includes the attempt to build bridges with initiatives such as Euro Office, promoting the adoption of European tools in professional contexts where external solutions still dominate.

This transition requires time, testing, investment and cultural change. The European alternative is not always the best known or the easiest to implement. For us, however, it is part of a long-term vision: building a digital operation more aligned with the values, requirements and priorities of the European market.

Where does Shopify stand in this debate?

Shopify deserves a specific note. Although it is a Canadian platform, it has shown a clear effort to comply with the European legal framework and adapt to privacy, ecommerce and consumer protection requirements. For that reason, it sits somewhat outside the most sensitive part of this issue: direct dependence on infrastructures subject to control models less compatible with the European vision.

For brands selling online, this does not remove the need to assess integrations, hosting, apps and data flows. But it shows that platform choices should be made carefully, considering technology, compliance, scalability and trust.

At BYDAS, we help companies make stronger digital decisions, from infrastructure and strategy to Shopify and ecommerce. If your brand wants to reduce technological dependencies and prepare for a more European digital economy, talk to us.