Forum Europe’s 4th European Sovereign Cloud Day, will take place in Brussels on the 24 June 2026.
European cloud sovereignty is becoming a defining issue in EU tech policy and regulation. It sits at the intersection of public procurement, cybersecurity requirements for cloud services, data governance in cloud environments, and the oversight of AI delivered through cloud infrastructure. As the EU develops frameworks to translate sovereignty from principle into procurement and compliance expectations, questions of legal exposure, operational control, supply chain trust, and interoperability are moving from specialist debate into mainstream policymaking.
The European Sovereign Cloud Day 2026 convenes EU and Member State policymakers, regulators and agencies, civil society and think tanks, and industry leaders to examine how the cloud sovereignty agenda is evolving and what it means for trusted cloud infrastructure and services in Europe. The programme focuses on the rules, guidance, and political trade-offs now under discussion – including the upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) – and on how those choices connect to implementation realities for administrations, critical sectors, and providers.
Confirmed speakers for this year’s edition of The European Sovereign Cloud Day are listed below, with additional speakers to be announced.
Manuel Mateo Goyet, Head of Unit – Cloud and Software, DG CNECT, European Commission Since 2019, Manuel Mateo Goyet is the deputy Head of the Cloud and Software unit at the European Commission, DG Connect.
Before that, he served as Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Gabriel advising her on questions of copyright, audiovisual, disinformation, high performance computing, digital skills, Wifi4EU and eHealth.
Manuel Mateo joined the Commission (DG INFSO/CONNECT) in 2006 where he held several positions, including that of Assistant to the Director General, and of deputy Head of Unit dealing with inter-institutional relations.
Prior to joining the Commission in 2006, Manuel gathered an extensive experience of industry by working in the private sector in Belgium, France and the Czech Republic. Manuel Mateo holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the Free University of Brussels, a MBA in European Management that got him travelling through Spain (Deusto), France (Audencia) and the United Kingdom (Bradford Management Centre) and a Master in Political Sciences from the Free University of Brussels.
Head of Unit – Cloud and Software, DG CNECT
European Commission
Pilar del Castillo Vera, Member, European Parliament Pilar del Castillo is an MEP for Spain’s Partido Popular party in the European People’s Party group. She is currently a member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy. She was elected into the European Parliament for the first time in 2004 and reelected in 2024. From 2019 to 2024, MEP Castillo has actively participated in several EU policy files, including the European Electronic Communications Code; the Telecoms Single Market Regulation; the Regulation on the Body of European Regulators in Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the report on Cloud Computing Strategy for Europe. She is also chair of the European Internet Foundation, vice-president of European Energy Forum (EEF) and member of the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN). Before entering the European Parliament, she was the minister of education, culture and sport in the second government of José Maria Aznar in 2000 to 2004. In 1986, Castillo became assistant professor in constitutional law at Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, and professor in political science and administration in 1994. She graduated in law in 1974 from Complutense University of Madrid (1983) and she holds a PhD from the same University.
Member
European Parliament
Jan Ellsberger, Director-General, ETSI Jan Ellsberger is the Director-General of ETSI (European Telecommunications/Technology Standards Institute), leading the organisation’s strategic evolution and its mission to deliver global, market-driven ICT standards grounded in European priorities and values. He can rely on extensive experience across industry, public policy and standards ecosystems, as he works closely with European institutions and stakeholders to strengthen ETSI’s role in supporting Europe’s digital leadership, sovereignty, competitiveness and innovation capacity. At the same time, he is reinforcing ETSI’s international partnerships and guiding the development of technology standards that support global digital transformation. Jan is deeply committed to fostering open, inclusive collaboration among industry, governments and research communities, ensuring that standards remain a trusted foundation for innovation and sustainable growth.
Director-General
ETSI
Diego Solier, Member, European Parliament Diego Solier is a Spanish Member of the European Parliament within the Spanish Delegation of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group, where he also serves as a member of the Bureau. A technical engineer with a background in IT and extensive experience in the private sector, he brings a strong expertise in systems, artificial intelligence and technological integrations in multinational environments.
He sits on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Committee on Petitions (PETI). He is also a member of the Delegation for relations with the Andean Community (DAND) and a substitute member of the Delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN (DASE).
Member
European Parliament
Philippe Merle, Head of Unit - Cloud Services & Software Broker, DG DIGIT and Chairman of the Cloud Council, European Commission Philippe Merle is Head of Unit of Cloud and Brokering Services at the European Commission (DG DIGIT) and Chairman of the Cloud Council of the European Commission. As of 2014, he has overseen the technical aspects of cloud procurement for the EU institutions and cloud evangelists within the institutions. As chairman of the Cloud Council, he drives the technical governance of cloud adoption.
Head of Unit - Cloud Services & Software Broker, DG DIGIT and Chairman of the Cloud Council
European Commission
Eric Chambriard, Vice President Sales & Strategic Alliances, OVH cloud Eric Chambriard has a diverse work experience spanning several companies in the telecommunications and digital services sectors. Eric is currently the VP Sales & Strategic Alliances at OVHcloud since May 2021. Prior to this role, Eric served as a Board Member at Eodom starting in October 2019. From 2014 to 2019, they worked as an Associate at Apps2com, a digital service company specializing in enterprise communication solutions. Before that, Eric was the CEO of ATTI, a telecommunication and IT integration service company, from 2011 to 2014. Eric also held the position of Managing Director in the “Hosted services” Business Unit at SFR – SFR business team from 2009 to 2011. Earlier in their career, Eric served as the VP of Customer Services at SFR – Neuf Cegetel from 2007 to 2008, and as the VP of Marketing at Neuf Cegetel from 2002 to 2006. Eric began their career as the VP of Network at SIRIS from 1995 to 2002.
Eric Chambriard attended CentraleSupélec from 1983 to 1986, but did not earn a degree or specialize in any specific field. In 2010, they enrolled in CRA Formation, where they studied Cédants et Repreneurs d’Affaires. Prior to that, they attended Lycée Sainte-Geneviève from 1981 to 1983, but their field of study is unknown.
Vice President Sales & Strategic Alliances
OVH cloud
Ingo Kraupa, Co-founder and CEO, noris network Ingo Kraupa is the CEO of noris network AG, a leading German IT service provider. He co-founded the company in 1993 during his computer science studies at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Over the last thirty years he developed the company from a small regional internet service provider to one of the best-renowned German IT service, cloud and datacenter providers with a strong business focus.
As CEO, Ingo Kraupa oversees financial planning, marketing and sales as well as human resources and corporate strategy. His focus is on business development and operational excellence, with a strong interest in business process automation and Green IT.
Co-founder and CEO
noris network
Andreea Gulacsi, Director Policy and External Affairs, CEN-CENELEC Bio to follow shortly.
Director Policy and External Affairs
CEN-CENELEC
Ronald Bezuur, CEO & Founder, Uniserver Bio to follow shortly.
CEO & Founder
Uniserver
Uwe Geier, Senior Director Cloud Solutions, IONOS Uwe Geier is Head of Cloud Products at IONOS, where he leads technical and commercial product management for Server & Cloud services and the corresponding Partner Management . With over 30 years of experience in open source, cloud architectures, and IT service management, Uwe is recognized for driving innovation, security, and operational excellence. He holds multiple industry certifications, including ITIL Expert & Managing Professional and ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Officer, and has a proven track record in building scalable, secure cloud solutions for enterprise customers.
Senior Director Cloud Solutions
IONOS
Audun Lødemel, Vice President Business Development, ATEA cloud Bio to follow shortly.
Vice President Business Development
ATEA cloud
Lars Göbel, Chief Commercial Officer, Evoila Bio to follow shortly.
Chief Commercial Officer
Evoila
David Michels, Researcher with the Cloud Legal Project at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London David Michels is a researcher with the Cloud Legal Project at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London, and a Guest Teacher at the London School of Economics. He has published articles covering cloud and IT services in leading US and European law journals and is a co-author of the Cloud Computing Law book (2nd edition, OUP, 2021). His research has been funded by Microsoft and Broadcom and his findings have been cited by the Singapore Court of Appeal and the Law Commission of England and Wales. Before joining academia, he worked as a Strategy and Policy Associate at Ofcom (the UK telecoms regulator) and as an Associate Legal Officer at the United Nations in the Hague. He has written an independent expert report for Broadcom on “Sovereign Cloud for Europe” and his most recent article, entitled “Storm Clouds are Building: Surveillance, Sovereignty, and State Interests”, will be published in the Virginia Journal of Law and Technology in 2025.
Researcher with the Cloud Legal Project at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies
Queen Mary University of London
Joe Baguley, Chief Technology Officer, Field Sales, EMEA, Broadcom Joe Baguley is the Chief Technology Officer, Field Sales, EMEA for Broadcom. He helps develop and communicate strategy and vision with customers and partners, using his wealth of experience to help organizations reduce costs and better support users and business needs. Joe is a recognized leader within the European technical community and is considered one of the world’s most influential IT global leaders, currently positioned 26th on Tenfold’s global list of the top 79 Chief Technology Officers. He speaks regularly at industry events, including The Economist’s Innovation Summit, to the broadcast media, including BBC World News and BBC Talking Business, and appeared in the Computer Weekly UKtech50 and the Information Age Top 50 Data Leaders. He has played a key role in CloudCamp and other events, communicating how cloud technology fits into the broader IT landscape. Joe previously spent 10 years at Quest Software where he was CTO of EMEA, shaping its direction and strategy. Joe is based in the U.K. with a remit across Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Chief Technology Officer, Field Sales, EMEA
Broadcom
Roger Samdal, Agency Director, Hybrid Cloud, Sopra Steria Roger Samdal is Agency Director for Hybrid Cloud at Sopra Steria, where he leads a team focused on developing and delivering hybrid cloud solutions that bridge existing IT platforms with next-generation cloud services. In this role, he works with organisations across the public and private sectors to support their cloud transformation journeys and implement secure, scalable infrastructure strategies.
He brings extensive experience in cloud technologies and enterprise IT, having previously held several senior roles at VMware, including Manager of Solution Engineering and Lead Solutions Engineer for Strategic Partners in the Nordics and Baltics. In these positions, he advised customers and partners on cloud architecture, hybrid cloud adoption, and infrastructure modernisation.
Earlier in his career, he held technical roles at EMC, Hewlett Packard, and other IT companies, building a strong foundation in systems engineering and enterprise infrastructure.
Agency Director, Hybrid Cloud
Sopra Steria
Ilias Chantzos, Head of EMEA Government Affairs, Broadcom Bio to follow shortly.
Head of EMEA Government Affairs
Broadcom
Eric Skalberg, Head of Cyber Security and Compliance, Advania Bio to follow shortly.
Head of Cyber Security and Compliance
Advania
Larik-Jan Verschuren-Parchomov, CTO, Fundaments Bio to follow shortly.
CTO
Fundaments
Petr Malina, Lead Business Development Manager, Cloud Services, Vivicta Bio to follow shortly.
Lead Business Development Manager, Cloud Services
Vivicta
Emna Chaouch, Leadership Advisor, Public Speaking Expert, & Business Mentor Emna Chaouch is an Executive & Strategic Advisor to top-tier CEOs, business leaders, and high-profile political figures. As an expert in ‘Inner Governance’ and the creator of the Integrated Leadership™ protocol, she steps in during critical momentum to realign a leader’s strategic vision, core messaging architecture and personal energy. Her surgical approach empowers figures of authority to overcome executive isolation and lead with absolute legitimacy, clarity, and impact.
Leadership Advisor, Public Speaking Expert, & Business Mentor
Event MC
Paul Adamson, Chairman, Forum Europe Paul Adamson is chairman of Forum Europe and founder and editor of Encompass, an online magazine dedicated to covering the European Union and Europe’s place in the world.
Paul is a member of the Centre for European Reform’s advisory board and Rand Europe’s Council of Advisors. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Policy Institute, King’s College London, a patron of the University Association of Contemporary European Studies (UACES) and a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences.
In 2012, Paul was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) “for services to promoting understanding of the European Union” and in 2016 he was made a Chevalier in the Ordre national du Mérite by the French government.
Chairman
Forum Europe
All times are in CEST
Stay tuned for the full agenda featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions on cloud sovereignty.
The European Sovereign Cloud Day 2025 took place on 3 June in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and technology experts to explore the future of cloud sovereignty in Europe.
Through keynote speeches and panel discussions, speakers addressed critical issues including data sovereignty, security, and compliance with EU regulations.
Watch the discussions on demand below:
Organised by
Forum Europe | Event Organiser Forum Europe events are where people and policy meet. We have been organising policy conferences in Brussels and around Europe since 1989. Our events provide unique insights from the people behind the policy and those seeking to influence it. Our expert team develop conference programmes with impact and provide first-class event logistics. Forum Europe is more than an event management and conference production specialist. With offices in Brussels and the UK, we operate across Europe and globally. Through our international arm, Forum Global, our events cover five continents, and engage policymakers and industry at national and regional levels around the world. Our mission is to drill down to the issues that matter, creating policy events that are ahead of the curve, facilitating frank and open debate on some of the most pressing issues facing Europe and the world today.
In partnership with
Advania is a leading IT services provider headquartered in Stockholm, serving organisations across Northern Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland. With over 5,000 employees and 50+ locations, Advania delivers comprehensive technology solutions — including cloud, managed IT services, cybersecurity and digital transformation — to both public and private sector clients. The company combines global scale with local expertise, offering vendor‑neutral guidance and tailored support that helps organisations simplify IT and drive sustainable growth.
ANS is a cloud and digital transformation provider, helping organisations adopt, manage and optimise modern technology environments. With expertise across cloud, managed services, cybersecurity and modern workplace solutions, ANS supports clients in driving innovation, improving performance and maintaining secure, resilient IT operations.
Aruba Cloud is a European cloud service provider and part of the Aruba S.p.A. Group, delivering a broad portfolio of digital infrastructure services to businesses, public administrations, and developers. Its offerings include public and private cloud solutions, virtual data centres, cloud storage, backup, and disaster recovery services.
With a strong focus on data sovereignty, transparency, and compliance with European regulatory frameworks, Aruba Cloud operates a network of data centres located primarily in Europe. The company is committed to high standards of security, reliability, and energy efficiency, supporting organisations in their digital transformation while ensuring that data remains protected and governed in line with EU values and legislation.
Atea is a leading provider of IT infrastructure and services in the Nordics and Baltics. The company delivers a broad portfolio of technology solutions, including cloud services, digital workplace, cybersecurity, data centre infrastructure, and managed services, supporting public and private organisations in their digital transformation journeys.
Bertelsmann is a diversified German media, services, and education group operating internationally across a range of industries including media, publishing, services, and digital content.
The company’s activities span television, book publishing, music, and digital media services, alongside business process outsourcing and education services through its various subsidiaries.
Bertelsmann is increasingly active in digital transformation and data-driven business models, with a growing focus on digital platforms, AI-enabled services, and scalable technology infrastructure across its global operations.
evoila cloud is a European cloud service provider and part of the evoila GmbH group, delivering managed cloud solutions and digital infrastructure services to enterprises and public sector organisations. Its portfolio includes public and private cloud, multi-cloud management, cloud-native development, as well as data, AI, and SAP-focused services.
The company supports organisations throughout their cloud transformation journey, from strategy and migration to ongoing operations, with a strong emphasis on security, compliance, and operational resilience. With operations across Europe, evoila cloud aligns its services with European data protection standards and regulatory requirements, contributing to secure, sovereign, and sustainable digital ecosystems.
Fundamentts is a cloud and digital transformation specialist, supporting organisations in modernising their IT environments and operating securely in the cloud. With expertise across Microsoft technologies, managed services and cybersecurity, Fundamentts helps clients improve collaboration, scalability and overall digital performance.
IONOS is a European cloud and digital infrastructure provider, part of the United Internet AG group. The company delivers a comprehensive range of services, including public cloud, infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform solutions, web hosting, and domain services to businesses, public sector organisations, and individuals.
With a strong footprint in Europe and the United States, IONOS operates its own data centres and places a particular emphasis on data protection, cybersecurity, and compliance with European regulatory standards. The company is committed to enabling secure and sovereign digital transformation, offering transparent and reliable cloud solutions that align with EU values around privacy, competition, and digital independence.
noris network is a German IT service provider and operator of high-security data centres. The company delivers managed IT services, cloud solutions, and colocation services for enterprise and public sector customers.
Its portfolio includes private cloud, hybrid cloud, IT outsourcing, and network services, with a strong focus on high availability, security, and performance for business-critical environments.
noris network operates its own data centre infrastructure in Germany, enabling highly controlled and secure IT environments designed to meet demanding regulatory and operational requirements.
OEDIV Managed Solutions is a German IT service provider specialising in managed services, cloud solutions, and SAP hosting for enterprise and public sector customers.
The company’s portfolio includes private and hybrid cloud, SAP basis operations, application management, and IT outsourcing services, with a strong focus on security, reliability, and compliance for business-critical systems.
OEDIV operates its own high-performance data centre infrastructure in Germany, enabling secure and sovereign IT environments tailored to meet stringent regulatory requirements and support digital transformation initiatives.
OVHcloud is a global cloud provider that specialises in delivering industry-leading performance and cost-effective solutions to better manage, secure, and scale data. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in France, OVHcloud manages a trusted cloud infrastructure for customers in more than 140 countries.
As a European leader in the cloud sector, OVHcloud offers a broad portfolio of solutions, including public cloud, private cloud, shared hosting, and dedicated servers. The Group relies on an integrated model that combines the design and operation of its own servers, data centres, and fibre-optic network.
OVHcloud is committed to providing an open, reversible, and trusted cloud environment, supporting customers in maintaining control over their data while meeting applicable regulatory and data protection requirements.
plusserver is a German cloud service provider specialising in managed cloud, hosting, and digital platform solutions for enterprise and public sector customers.
Its portfolio includes public, private, and hybrid cloud services, as well as Kubernetes, data platforms, and application modernisation solutions, with a strong focus on scalability, security, and data sovereignty.
plusserver operates its infrastructure primarily in Germany, enabling compliant and secure cloud environments designed to support business-critical workloads and meet European regulatory requirements.
q.beyond is a German IT service provider specialising in cloud, SAP, and digital transformation services for mid-sized and enterprise customers.
Its portfolio includes managed cloud services, SAP consulting and operations, application management, and cybersecurity solutions, with a strong focus on enabling efficient, secure, and scalable IT environments.
q.beyond supports customers across both public and private cloud environments, helping organisations modernise legacy systems and operate business-critical applications with a focus on reliability, compliance, and performance.
Redcentric is a managed IT services provider specialising in network, connectivity and communications solutions. Supporting organisations with secure infrastructure and reliable connectivity, Redcentric enables businesses to deliver critical services, enhance collaboration and maintain high-performing, resilient IT environments.
Sopra Steria is a leading European technology company in consulting, digital services and software development. It supports organisations in their digital transformation and helps them achieve tangible and sustainable results.
The Group delivers end-to-end solutions designed to strengthen the performance and competitiveness of large organisations. It combines deep sector expertise with innovative technologies and a collaborative approach.
With around 50,000 employees across nearly 30 countries, Sopra Steria places people at the centre of its approach and works to harness digital technology to contribute to a positive future.
Uniserver is a cloud services provider specialising in sovereign and enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure. The company supports organisations in deploying, managing and optimising cloud environments with a strong focus on security, compliance and data sovereignty. Uniserver enables clients to run critical workloads reliably while maintaining control, performance and regulatory alignment.
Vivicta is a European initiative focused on developing next-generation digital and cloud infrastructure solutions. It brings together partners from across industry and the public sector to support the deployment of secure, interoperable, and energy-efficient computing resources in Europe.
The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty by fostering innovation in cloud, edge, and high-performance computing, while aligning with European regulatory frameworks and standards. Through collaboration and investment in advanced infrastructure, Vivicta contributes to building a resilient and sustainable digital ecosystem that supports emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data-driven services.
VMware, a global leader in cloud infrastructure and business mobility, helps customers realize possibilities by accelerating their digital transformation journeys. With VMware solutions, organizations are improving business agility by modernizing data centers and integrating public clouds, driving innovation with modern apps, creating exceptional experiences by empowering the digital workspace, and safeguarding customer trust by transforming security. VMware is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA and has over 500,000 customers and 75,000 partners worldwide.
For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact Lorena Rodríguez using any of the following details:
Lorena Rodríguez
Senior Event Manager, Forum Europe
Tel: +44 (0) 7845 647 358
The in-person event will be held at the Radisson Collection Grand Place Brussels (Rue du Fossé aux Loups 47, 1000 Brussels, Belgium) — attendance is by application.
The event will also be available online, free to register, with the joining link shared closer to the event.
