BRUSSELS - As the European Commission’s consultation on the Cloud and AI Development Act ends today, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) has submitted its views, urging policymakers to prioritize openness, interoperability, and international collaboration in the development of Europe’s digital infrastructure.

In its contribution, BSA welcomes the EU’s ambition to expand cloud and computing capacity, but warns against introducing strict “sovereignty” rules, such as ownership or location-based restrictions, as they could make it harder for European companies and organizations to access the best tools and technologies. Instead, BSA supports aligning with the Commission’s International Digital Strategy, which emphasizes international cooperation with trusted and like-minded partners and allies.

“Europe’s strategic autonomy must be built on openness, not isolation,” said Alice Stradi, Senior Manager, Policy, at BSA. “Trusted international partnerships, multi-cloud strategies, and transparent cybersecurity standards are essential to ensure secure and competitive cloud ecosystems that benefit businesses and citizens alike. The EU has a unique opportunity to lead on cloud and AI infrastructure, but this leadership must be grounded in innovation and global engagement, not protectionism.”

This position builds on BSA’s longstanding stance that digital policies should favor openness and international collaboration. Besides welcoming the EU’s emphasis on global trade and interoperability in the International Digital Strategy, in the input to the EU Cybersecurity Act review, BSA warned against the risk of turning cybersecurity policy into a tool for protectionism. 

The Cloud and AI Development Act presents an additional opportunity to reinforce these principles and support a secure, open, and competitive digital infrastructure in Europe.
Read the full submission here.