Office.eu Launches as Europe’s Alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
With the official launch in The Hague, Office.eu enters the market as a fully European alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. The platform relies on open-source technology, European data centers, and a clear focus on data sovereignty. AI functions are also planned for later this year, to be integrated directly into the work environment.
European Response to Digital Dependency
The founding of Office.eu coincides with growing concerns about the dependency of European organizations on American software providers. Geopolitical developments and laws such as the US CLOUD Act have recently intensified the debate on digital sovereignty. Office.eu positions itself as a direct response to this situation: all data and applications remain on European infrastructure and are subject exclusively to European law.
“We have increasingly seen how important it is to become cloud-independent and to rely on software built on European values. Office.eu proves that we now have a strong European alternative, with sovereignty, data protection, and transparency at its core.” – Maarten Roelfs, CEO of Office.eu
The company was founded in 2024 and began operations in early March 2026. The rollout is currently taking place in phases by invitation for selected customers across Europe. Broad availability is planned for the second quarter of 2026. Customers from all European countries can already register on the waiting list, with a special focus on individuals as well as small and medium-sized enterprises.
Feature Overview: What Office EU Offers
Office EU is designed as a complete all-in-one work environment based on Nextcloud Hub. The suite bundles all essential tools for daily collaboration in a single platform, without the need for external services.
| Area | Function |
|---|---|
| File Management | Store, share, and synchronize files across all devices |
| Document Editing | Online editing of DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and ODF formats |
| Webmail client with support for IMAP and POP3 | |
| Calendar and Contacts | Complete groupware with CalDAV and CardDAV |
| Communication | Chat, video calls, webinars, and screen sharing |
| Desktop and Mobile | Sync clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as mobile apps |
Compatibility with common Microsoft formats is intended to ease the transition. Migrations from Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are actively supported, including through standardized protocols such as IMAP for email and CalDAV for calendars.
AI Functions Planned: European and Controllable
Office EU plans to integrate AI functions that will be embedded directly into the existing work environment. The goal is to accelerate everyday tasks without losing control over sensitive data.
Planned AI functions include:
- Automatic document summarization
- Text drafts and writing assistance
- Meeting transcription
- Intelligent search across files and team knowledge
Users can choose from various AI providers, including OpenAI and Mistral, which are connected via API. Those who prefer maximum control can use a dedicated open-source model that runs on their own infrastructure and is managed by Office EU. In this case, data never leaves the user’s environment and is not used for training external models.
Office EU aims for a transparent, competitive pricing structure with no hidden costs. Full pricing plans will be published at the official launch. According to the company, prices will be comparable to existing market solutions such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
Data Protection and Digital Sovereignty
A central selling point of Office EU is its consistent focus on European data protection. All data is stored exclusively in European data centers and is therefore not subject to access by non-European laws such as the US CLOUD Act.
Key data protection features at a glance:
- European Data Centers: No data storage outside the EU
- GDPR-Compliant Design: Privacy by design as a fundamental principle of the platform
- Open Source: Source code is accessible, no hidden processes
- No Access by Third Countries: Protection against non-European laws such as the US CLOUD Act
- AI Without Data Sharing: Option for local models without transmission to external providers
Office EU points out that GDPR compliance does not depend solely on the tool itself, but also on how the organization uses it internally. Companies should therefore conduct their own compliance review for their specific use case.
Interested companies and individuals can already apply for access. The broad European rollout is planned for the second quarter of 2026.
