Comments on the 'Euro Stack' Conference

The "Toward European Digital Independence: Building the Euro Stack" conference, held on September 24, 2024, at the European Parliament in Brussels, provided a crucial platform for discussing Europe's digital future. The event, which we closely followed, addressed critical issues surrounding digital sovereignty, public digital infrastructure, the role of digital commons, and the need for a robust European policy framework. This paper analyzes the conference's outcomes, highlighting areas of alignment with our strategic goals, identifying gaps, and proposing concrete actions to further the cause of European digital independence.

Key Alignments and Positive Outcomes

The conference underscored several themes that resonate deeply with our core principles:

Digital Sovereignty and Data Autonomy

The emphasis on reducing reliance on non-European cloud providers, particularly US hyperscalers, aligns with our commitment to digital sovereignty. The discussions on technological autonomy through a "Euro Stack" and ensuring data sovereignty through independent infrastructures are in line with our advocacy for safeguarding European data from the undue influence of extraterritorial laws, such as the US CLOUD Act. We strongly support the development of a "Euro Stack" that prioritizes European control, data protection, and open standards.

Open Source as a Foundation

The strong advocacy for open source solutions as a cornerstone of the Euro Stack reflects our belief that open source software and standards are essential for achieving digital sovereignty. The perspectives shared by panelists on the importance of privacy-preserving, transparent, and interoperable systems reinforce our position that public procurement must prioritize open source solutions. We endorse the "Public Money, Public Code" principle and believe it should be a guiding principle for all publicly funded software projects.

Empowering SMEs

The conference highlighted the crucial role of SMEs as drivers of innovation and sovereignty. We strongly agree with calls for public-private partnerships and open public procurement processes that empower local players. This aligns with our position that regulations and procurement policies must be SME-friendly, fostering a diverse and competitive European digital market.

Avoiding Lock-In and Hyperscaler Dominance

The focus on cloud interoperability and data portability is crucial to preventing vendor lock-in and mitigating the dominance of hyperscalers. The warnings against the loss of European cloud market share and the importance of neutral cloud-edge solutions echo our concerns about the risks of relying on a small number of dominant providers. We believe that open standards and a diversified supplier base are essential for a healthy and competitive digital ecosystem.

Sustainability in Digital Infrastructure

We commend the conference's attention to the environmental footprint of high-performance computing (HPC) and the need for energy-efficient technologies. Integrating green technologies into the digital infrastructure aligns with our broader goals of aligning innovation with sustainability. We advocate for green computing standards to be incorporated into European cloud initiatives and procurement policies.

Gaps, Divergences, and Areas for Improvement

Despite the many positive outcomes, the conference also revealed several gaps and areas where further action is needed:

Concrete Alternatives to GAIA-X

While the conference participants criticized GAIA-X for its lack of concrete outcomes, a clear and actionable alternative was not sufficiently articulated. We believe that a federated commercial model, which empowers European SMEs while avoiding the bureaucratic pitfalls seen in GAIA-X, should be pursued. It is important to move beyond critique and towards constructive solutions that can be implemented effectively.

Addressing Regulatory Burdens on SMEs

Although the role of SMEs was highlighted, the conference did not adequately address the disproportionate regulatory burdens they face, such as those imposed by the CRA or EUCS. We believe that differentiated regulatory approaches are necessary, with exemptions and reduced compliance costs for SMEs and open source projects to foster innovation and growth.

Sustainable Funding for Open Source

The discussions on funding primarily focused on large-scale infrastructure and new developments, overlooking the need for sustainable support of existing open source projects. Many foundational OSS projects face underfunding, jeopardizing their long-term viability. We believe that dedicated funding streams for open source project maintenance are crucial for a healthy digital ecosystem.

Avoiding Overemphasis on Bureaucratic Coordination

While pan-European coordination is important, we caution against over-prioritizing bureaucratic frameworks at the expense of actionable outcomes. We advocate for lean, goal-oriented governance models that reduce administrative overhead and prioritize deliverables.

Recommendations for Action

Based on the conference outcomes and our analysis, we propose the following recommendations:

Advance Concrete Frameworks for Cloud Autonomy

We should actively participate in developing standards and certifications that emphasize European control, data protection, and open standards for cloud autonomy. This involves collaborating with stakeholders to create actionable frameworks that can be implemented effectively.

Integrate Open Source-First Policies

We should advocate for the explicit integration of "open source-first" policies in public initiatives. This includes also proposing actionable frameworks, such as mandating "Public Money, Public Code," and lobbying for financial support for maintaining key European OSS projects.

Strengthen SME Inclusion in Public Funding and Procurement

We should intensify efforts to ensure SME inclusion in public funding and procurement. Partnering with organizations that represent SMEs can amplify this push, particularly to ensure procurement budgets explicitly reserve portions for European SMEs in cloud and software sectors.

Promote Cloud Portability and Open Ecosystems

We should collaborate with initiatives promoting cloud portability standards and open ecosystems, ensuring that regulatory frameworks require interoperability as a baseline for all cloud providers operating in Europe.

Advocate for Green Computing Standards

We should push for the integration of green computing standards into European cloud initiatives, emphasizing sustainable hardware and energy efficiency in procurement policies.

Propose Alternatives to GAIA-X

We should articulate and promote alternatives to GAIA-X, such as a federated commercial model that empowers European SMEs while avoiding the bureaucratic pitfalls seen in GAIA-X.

Emphasize Differentiated Regulatory Approaches

We must stress the necessity of differentiated regulatory approaches for SMEs and open source projects, advocating for exemptions and reduced compliance costs for these key players.

Lead a Campaign for Dedicated Funding Streams

We should advocate for dedicated funding streams for open source project maintenance under frameworks like Horizon Europe and national digital strategies.

Advocate for Lean, Goal-Oriented Governance Models

We should promote lean, goal-oriented governance models to oversee Euro Stack initiatives, reducing bureaucratic overhead and prioritizing deliverables.

Strategic Engagement

To effectively implement these recommendations, we propose the following strategic engagements:

Expand Advocacy for Open Standards and Interoperability

We should engage with policymakers and technologists to ensure that open standards and data portability become mandatory in European cloud initiatives. Collaborating with organizations like OpenNebula and Fraunhofer ISST will be crucial in championing open ecosystems.

Strengthen SME-Centric Policies

We should develop and promote SME-focused amendments to regulations like the CRA, ensuring innovation-friendly compliance standards. Additionally, we should push for procurement quotas for European SMEs in cloud and software projects.

Address Funding Gaps

We should advocate for Horizon Europe and other funding instruments to prioritize open source maintenance alongside new projects. Lobbying for blended financing models (grants and investments) will also be essential to support SMEs in scaling their solutions.

Promote Alternatives to GAIA-X

We should position ourselves as constructive critics of GAIA-X, proposing tangible reforms to improve SME inclusion and accelerate implementation. Promoting alternatives like federated commercial models that align with open standards and SME-friendly approaches will be key.

Champion Sustainable Infrastructure

We should ensure that environmental sustainability remains central to Euro Stack initiatives by advocating for green computing technologies. Collaborating with sustainability experts to integrate energy-efficient requirements into public procurement policies will be important.

Influence Public Procurement Policies

We should push for "Public Money, Public Code" principles to be adopted as standard practice across EU member states and encourage governments to adopt open source-first procurement policies for digital infrastructure projects.

Conclusion

The "Euro Stack" conference has provided valuable insights and reinforced the importance of many of our strategic goals, particularly around open source adoption, SME empowerment, and digital sovereignty. However, significant gaps remain in regulatory reform, sustainable funding for open source, and practical implementation strategies. We must actively engage with stakeholders, advocating for actionable, SME-inclusive, and open source-driven frameworks to ensure Europe's digital independence and long-term competitiveness. By prioritizing collaboration, concrete outcomes, and a commitment to open standards and sustainability, we can shape the Euro Stack into a model of digital sovereignty that truly reflects European values and ensure that the European digital landscape is built on a foundation of openness, transparency, and inclusivity. The principles of "thinking open," transforming through shared innovation, ensuring security, and staying in control by promoting open standards, should guide our actions as we work towards a more resilient and autonomous European digital future.