European Commission: Unleashing the Potential of Cloud Computing in Europe

The European Commission’s cloud computing strategy document – titled Unleashingthe Potential of Cloud Computingin Europe - has outlined the obstacles to establishing a vibrant
market for cloud computing.
The main obstacles are:

1. a lack of clarity on rights, responsibilities,and liability; 
2. insufficient data protection; 
3. and insufficient standardisation, particularly across jurisdictions. 

The European Commission (EC) has requested that the European Telecommunications Standards
Institute set-up a Cloud Group to look into the needs for cloud standardisation and conformity with interoperability standards. The EC also says it will work with relevant bodies to assist the development of EU-wide voluntary certification schemes in the area of cloud computing and plans to publish a list of such schemes by 2014.

Source: European Cloud Computing Stragety web site