The Dutch government has signed a framework agreement with the European cloud platform STACKIT. This enables government organisations to use European cloud services on pre-agreed, secure, and favourable terms. The agreement helps strengthen the Netherlands’ digital autonomy and reduce reliance on non-European providers.
The agreement sets out the legal terms governing the voluntary procurement of services from STACKIT by government organisations. Clear arrangements have been made for data storage, specifically within the European Economic Area (EEA). The government also retains audit rights to verify STACKIT’s compliance with these terms, ensuring that data is used safely and in accordance with regulations. Additional conditions cover contract termination, for example, if the provider comes under the control of a party outside the EEA.
State Secretary Aerdts (Digital Economy and Sovereignty): “Digital autonomy means having the freedom to choose from a wide range of providers, ensuring competition and innovation. Strengthening the European market is key to achieving this. This agreement enables government organisations to access cloud services from European providers on favourable terms.”
Minister Van Weel (Justice and Security): “With this agreement, we are taking an important step towards reducing our dependence on non-European parties and strengthening our digital resilience.”
Negotiations on behalf of the government were led by SLM Rijk (Strategic Supplier Management for Government). By collectively agreeing to these terms through SLM Rijk, individual government organisations avoid lengthy contract negotiations. This ensures consistency and guarantees that all government bodies, regardless of size, can access the same favourable terms. Participation is entirely optional: government organisations are not obligated to use the services, nor are there any minimum spending requirements. The agreement has been signed and is now in effect, allowing government entities to procure services from STACKIT under these terms.
