The  European cloud computing strategy adopted on 27 September 2012 and entitled ‘Unleashing the Potential of Cloud Computing in Europe’ aims to transform Europe into a ‘world cloud computing powerhouse’ for the benefits of citizens and business. It proposes actions in three areas:

• standardization and certification
• contract and service level agreements
• public sector leadership through the creation of European Cloud Partnership

Actions of relevance to eHealth include among others:

• ETSI to identify by 2013 a map of necessary standards to secure interoperability, security, data portability, reversibility
• Development of EU voluntary certification schemes by 2014
• Commission-industry cooperation to define harmonized levels for energy consumption of cloud service by 2014
• Commission-industry cooperation to define a code of conduct on data protection
• Establishment of a  European Cloud Partnership , including industry, to work on common procurement requirements for cloud computing services