- The Dutch government is increasingly dependent on US cloud services like Microsoft, raising concerns about data sovereignty and security.
- Cloud Kootwijk is a proposed backup facility on European soil to ensure confidential government communication in case of emergencies.
- Despite political support and motions passed, there is no budget allocated for Cloud Kootwijk, hindering implementation.
- Digitalization and cloud sovereignty receive little attention from political parties in the upcoming elections, with knowledgeable IT candidates often placed in unelectable positions.
- The current parliamentary committee on digital affairs has been crucial in driving progress, but continued advocacy is needed to maintain focus.
- Other positive developments include Schleswig-Holstein's independence from US software and EU funding for cloud contracts, but these require political will to succeed.