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As a European citizen, I understand first-hand the importance of digital sovereignty, especially for our public sector organisations and highly regulated industries. Today, I’m delighted to share that the AWS European Sovereign Cloud is now generally available to all customers. We first announced our plans to build this new independent cloud infrastructure in 2023, and today it’s ready to meet the most stringent sovereignty requirements of European customers with a comprehensive set of AWS services.
Meeting European sovereignty requirements
Organizations across Europe face increasingly complex regulatory requirements around data residency, operational control, and governance independence. Too often today, European organisations with the highest sovereignty requirements are stuck in legacy on-premises environments or offerings with reduced services and functionality. In response to this critical need, the AWS European Sovereign Cloud is the only fully featured and independently operated sovereign cloud backed by strong technical controls, sovereign assurances, and legal protections. Public sector entities and businesses in highly regulated industries need cloud infrastructure that provides enhanced sovereignty controls that maintain the innovation, security, and reliability they expect from modern cloud services. These organisations require assurance that their data and operations remain under European jurisdiction, with clear governance structures and operational autonomy within the European Union (EU).
A new independent cloud infrastructure for Europe
The AWS European Sovereign Cloud represents a physically and logically separate cloud infrastructure, with all components located entirely within the EU. The first AWS Region in the AWS European Sovereign Cloud is located in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, and is generally available today. This Region operates independently from existing AWS Regions. The infrastructure features multiple Availability Zones with redundant power and networking, designed to operate continuously even if connectivity with the rest of the world is interrupted.
We plan to extend the AWS European Sovereign Cloud footprint from Germany across the EU to support stringent isolation, in-country data residency, and low latency requirements. This will start with new sovereign Local Zones located in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Portugal. In addition, you will be able to extend the AWS European Sovereign Cloud infrastructure with AWS Dedicated Local Zones, AWS AI Factories, or AWS Outposts in locations you select, including your own on-premises data centres.
The AWS European Sovereign Cloud and its Local Zones provide enhanced sovereign controls through its unique operational model. The AWS European Sovereign Cloud will be operated exclusively by EU residents located in the EU. This covers activities such as day-to-day operations, technical support, and customer service. We’re gradually transitioning the AWS European Sovereign Cloud to be operated exclusively by EU citizens located in the EU. During this transition period, we will continue to work with a blended team of EU residents and EU citizens located in the EU.
The infrastructure is managed through dedicated European legal entities established under German law. In October 2025, AWS appointed Stéphane Israël, an EU citizen residing in the EU, as managing director. Stéphane will be responsible for the management and operations of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, including infrastructure, technology, and services, as well as leading AWS broader digital sovereignty efforts. In January 2026, AWS also appointed Stefan Hoechbauer (Vice President, Germany and Central Europe, AWS) as a managing director of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. He will work alongside Stéphane Israel to lead the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.
An advisory board comprised exclusively of EU citizens, and including two independent third-party representatives, provides additional oversight and expertise on sovereignty matters.
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