DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 17 April 2026
Commission awards €180 million tender for sovereign cloud to four European providers
The European Commission is strengthening the European Union's digital sovereignty by awarding a tender that allows EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies (Union entities) to procure sovereign cloud services for up to €180 million over 6 years.
The four awarded providers are European companies: Post Telecom with its partners CleverCloud and OVHcloud, StackIT, Scaleway, and finally Proximus, which partners with S3NS (a joint venture of Thales and Google Cloud), Clarence and Mistral.
This tender supports the Commission's broader efforts to enhance its own sovereignty, reinforcing strategic control across key technologies and infrastructure.
The awarded providers were selected based on their alignment with the Commission's Cloud Sovereignty Framework, which measures sovereignty across eight objectives. These include strategic, legal, operational, and environmental considerations, as well as supply chain transparency, technological openness, security, and compliance with EU laws. The Commission awarded four contracts in parallel to ensure diversification and resilience, avoiding over-reliance on a single provider. To be eligible, the providers had to reach rigorous assurance levels ensuring that non-EU third parties have limited control over the technologies the providers use, or services they provide.
Large-scale use of the EU cloud is a prerequisite for improving the EU's digital sovereignty. The Commission leads by example, as the Sovereign Cloud call for tenders sets a new benchmark for what ‘sovereign' means in practice for cloud services.
The tender encourages the entire sector to comply with European standards and values. Its success highlights the high quality of European providers, demonstrating their ability to meet the Commission's strict criteria. It also shows that non-European technologies, when operated within a strict and appropriate framework, can meet the minimum level of sovereignty required.
Next steps
The Commission is finalising an updated version of the Cloud Sovereignty Framework that will include specific criteria to perform sovereignty assessments. This update is meant to support the entities that are willing to reuse the Commission's approach.
Internally, the Commission is working on adapting the developed sovereignty criteria to assess and enhance sovereignty across the digital services that it provides to its departments and other Union entities.
The Commission is also preparing the Tech Sovereignty package. This package will include the Open Source strategy, the Chips Act 2, the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy, and the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA).
The CADA will harmonise what sovereignty for Cloud and AI computing services means across the single market. It will improve opportunities for sovereign cloud offerings, including through public procurement, and support the entry into the market of a more diverse set of cloud and AI service providers.
Background
The tender was launched as a competition under the Cloud III Dynamic Purchasing System (Cloud III DPS) in October 2025.
For more information
Cloud Sovereignty Framework
DIGIT Europa
Second meeting of Special Panel to advise President von der Leyen on child online safety
Today, the Special Panel on child online safety advising President von der Leyen on child online safety, convened for a second meeting. Today's meeting focused on current EU rules and initiatives to protect minors online, shared by experts advising Member States, as well as international approaches, such as Australia's social media minimum age. This meeting follows yesterday's presentation by the Commission of the final EU age verification app, the most privacy-preserving and user-friendly tool to protect children online.
President Ursula von der Leyen, said: “We must protect our children in the online world, just as we do in the offline world. And for that, we need a harmonised European approach. Yesterday, I presented our EU age verification app - this is our European solution. With the highest privacy standards in the world. I encourage all our Member States to start customising our app so it can be used by citizens soon. Because this tool will help parents protect their children across platforms.”
The participants of the full-day meeting included youth representatives, legal specialists, computer scientists, medical professionals and child rights advocates. The discussions focused on new and improved approaches at EU level, as well as non-legislative initiatives that can ensure children are safer online.
The meeting builds on insights from the first panel meeting, which examined the latest research on the opportunities and risks associated with children's online activities, such as social media, gaming, AI applications and messaging platforms.
The Special Panel on child online safety is co-chaired by Maria Melchior, Research Director at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and Professor Dr Jörg M. Fegert, Director of the Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at Ulm University Medical Centre. The list of participants is available online.
The Special Panel does not have permanent membership and the specialists invited may vary from meeting to meeting, as the President seeks the views of a broad audience.
EU Age Verification App
President von der Leyen and Executive Vice-President Virkkunen presented yesterday the final EU age verification app, the most privacy-preserving and user-friendly solution that will soon be available across the EU on all devices. The EU age verification app is also open source, therefore allowing partner countries to rely on it.
The EU app verifies a user's age online without sharing any personal information thanks to the 'zero-knowledge proof' method. Online platforms can fully rely on the EU age verification app to ensure that children are not exposed to dangerous or harmful content on their services. Under the Digital Services Act, online platforms are legally required to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors in the EU.
In July 2025*, the Commission first presented the blueprint of the app, which it then provided to Member States to test and develop in their national contexts. Seven frontrunner Member States are already piloting the development of the app: France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Spain, Cyprus and Ireland. They are planning to integrate the app into their national eID wallets.
The Commission will convene the panel for a third meeting of the social media panel in the coming months. By the summer of 2026, the co-chairs will report to the President on findings and recommendations informed by the Special Panel meetings.
On the EU age verification app, all Member States can now start customising the app to offer it to their citizens.
President von der Leyen is also discussing the protection of children online with global leaders, including in a videoconference today on digital majority age with European partners, hosted by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
*Updated on 16/04/2026 at 17:45
Quote(s)
We must protect our children in the online world, just as we do in the offline world. And for that, we need a harmonised European approach. Yesterday, I presented our EU age verification app - this is our European solution. With the highest privacy standards in the world. I encourage all our Member States to start customising our app so it can be used by citizens soon. Because this tool will help parents protect their children across platforms.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Protecting minors online is a top priority. Europe will not tolerate that platforms make money at the expense of our kids. The internet must be a safe place for our kids – this is a crucial pillar of the Digital Services Act. One where they can learn, grow and connect. And we are deeply committed to making it a reality.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
EU and South Korea strengthen trade and technology cooperation
Today, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and South Korean Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo co-chaired the 13th EU-Republic of Korea Trade Committee, under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The two sides strengthened their partnership by holding the first Strategic Dialogue on Trade, Supply Chains and Technology, while also endorsing the final text of the EU-Korea Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) to be signed at the EU-Korea Summit later this year.
During the Trade Committee meeting, both sides highlighted the FTA's tangible benefits for businesses and citizens. Commissioner Šefčovič emphasized in particular the constantly growing trade in goods, as well as the significant level of investments. Both sides welcomed progress on the update of the Motor Vehicles and Parts Annex, an agreement to work towards a Mutual Recognition on Electronics, and a decision to set up a Working Group on Cosmetics. At the same time, a frank discussion was held on key trade irritants and issues that European businesses, farmers and other stakeholders face when operating in Korea. Commissioner Šefčovič raised in particular areas such as market access for agricultural products, offshore wind, automotive and restrictions on the online sales of alcoholic beverages.
With the Strategic Dialogue, the EU and Korea established a platform for forward-looking cooperation on key shared geoeconomic priorities, including economic security, critical raw materials, advanced tech supply chain protection, and battery cooperation. Commissioner Šefčovič and Minister Yeo also agreed to start preparations for launching an EU-Korea Future Strategic Partnership, in time for the EU-Korea Summit to be held later this year.
Finally, both sides welcomed agreement on the final, ambitious DTA text, which reflects the EU's commitment to setting high-standard digital trade rules, while connecting further the digital economies of the EU and Korea. The deal provides binding rules that build consumer trust, ensure predictability and legal certainty for businesses, as well as trusted data flows.
Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič said: “The EU-Korea partnership is a success story in action: bilateral trade reached €124 billion last year, with the EU being by far the largest investor in Korea. Today's announcements confirm that we are steadily building on this momentum. I particularly welcome our strong focus on economic security – from critical minerals to critical technologies. In today's world, cooperation among like-minded partners is essential to ensuring stable, predictable and mutually beneficial trade. I look forward to signing the EU-Korea DTA at our Summit later this year, and to our Future Strategic Alliance taking shape.”
(For more information: Olof Gill - Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Marta Perez-Cejuela Romero - Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)
EU and Japan discuss how to strengthen defence and security cooperation
Today, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, and Japanese State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshio Ino attended the first meeting of the EU-Japan Defence Industry Dialogue.
It was launched by – and brought together - defence industries and associations from the EU and Japan. They recognised the need to fast-track the resilience of their defence supply chains and explore the joint development of dual-use sectors.
Both sides confirmed a shared priority to strengthen their industrial bases and to establish a framework for closer cooperation between their respective defence sectors. The meeting served as a practical step toward realizing the goals of the EU-Japan Competitiveness Alliance to further enhance joint competitiveness in line with shared priorities. In addition, it will serve the goals of the Security and Defence Partnership to reduce dependencies and build stronger defence ecosystems.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel: +32 2 299 10 99; Marine Strauss – Tel: +32 2 298 91 03)
Executive Vice-President Séjourné and Commissioner Dombrovskis to highlight Europe's industrial future at Hannover Messe
On Sunday and Monday, 19-20 April, Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, and Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification, will join world leaders at the opening of Hannover Messe – Europe's biggest trade fair for manufacturing and technology.
At Hannover Messe, the EU will highlight how it is helping European industry stay strong, innovative, and competitive. This means supporting key sectors like computer chips and high-tech manufacturing, but also energy-intensive industries, while making it easier for businesses to produce high-quality, sustainable products.
Another priority is ensuring Europe has reliable access to the raw materials needed for green and digital technologies. The EU is also cutting unnecessary red tape to make it simpler for businesses to grow and innovate. At the same time, it is working to improve the Single Market, removing obstacles so companies can trade more freely across Europe. With Brazil as this year's partner country of the Hannover Messe, the event will serve to strengthen cooperation on sustainable industry and critical raw materials, benefiting both economies. Finally, the Commission will discuss with stakeholders the Industrial Accelerator Act, notably the introduction of “Made in Europe” requirements to boost European production.
Executive Vice-President Séjourné will, on Sunday, give a keynote speech on how the EU is boosting industrial competitiveness, ensuring Europe remains a leader in innovation and clean technology. The next day, he will open the EU's exhibition stand, followed by an event with business leaders, policymakers, and innovators.
On Sunday, Commissioner Dombrovskis will deliver a keynote speech on competitiveness as Europe's response to geoeconomic challenges, followed by a panel discussion. The next day, he will also take part in the EU's exhibition stand opening, as well as a roundtable discussion on simplification with industry representatives.
Executive Vice-President Séjourné and Commissioner Dombrovskis will also take part in an official tour of the fair alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Olaf Lies, Minister-President of Lower Saxony.
You can find more information on the Commission's dedicated website to the EU at Hannover Messe 2026.
(For more information: Siobhan McGarry - Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74)
Commissioner Jørgensen in Spain to discuss ways to tackle the energy and housing crises
On Monday and Tuesday, 20-21 April, Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen will be in Madrid and Barcelona to discuss energy security, affordability and ways to tackle the housing crisis with Spanish national and local authorities, as well as sectorial stakeholders and young people.
As part of his country visit, Commissioner Jørgensen will meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the third Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen, in Madrid on Tuesday. On the same day, following his participation to the ESADE Annual Energy Meeting, dedicated to affordable, secure, and clean energy for Europe, he will also deliver a keynote speech at the WindEurope Annual Event 2026. In Barcelona on Monday, the Commissioner will visit Fusion for Energy (F4E), the Barcelona-based EU organisation responsible for Europe's contribution to ITER, the largest fusion energy experiment in the world.
Spain marks the third stop of the Commissioner's European Affordable Housing Tour, following Austria and Portugal. In Madrid, Commissioner Jørgensen will hold a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Housing and Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodríguez. In Barcelona on Monday, he will discuss housing policies with the President of the Regional Government of Catalunya, Salvador Illa, and the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni. Following their meeting, Commissioner Jørgensen and Mayor Collboni will hold a joint press point that you can follow on EbS. The Commission is advancing work on the Affordable Housing Act that will provide a European framework to tackle the negative impacts of short-term rentals and promote housing affordability in areas under housing stress across the EU.
In Barcelona, the Commissioner will also chair a Youth Dialogue on Housing, which will give young people from a variety of backgrounds the possibility to exchange on the pressing housing problems they are facing, as solutions moving ahead.
Audiovisual coverage of the country visit will be available on EBS.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Cristiana Marchitelli – Tel: +32 2 298 94 07)
Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings
Note that these items can be subject to changes.
Upcoming events of the European Commission
Eurostat press releases
Calendar items of the President and Commissioners
Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners