Summary Under the proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), a Member State is not limited to one entity: as proposed in Article 12(1), it would designate one or more single information points for data centre operators of projects in acceleration zones. There is no stated maximum. Member States could also designate a single information point already established under Regulation (EU) 2024/1309 (the Gigabit Infrastructure Act), reusing existing structures rather than building new ones.

Detail

CADA would streamline the deployment of data centres across the EU. Two linked tools are the "data centre acceleration zone" and the "single information point" that assists operators through permitting and authorisation.

One or more points

Article 12(1) addresses how many points a Member State may set up. It provides that, to give operators the right to assistance, "Member States shall designate one or more single information points for data centre operators of data centre projects in acceleration zones." That wording gives administrative flexibility. Depending on governance structures, geography or regional divisions, a Member State could:

  • designate a single, centralised national point;
  • designate several regional or local points for more localised support; or
  • assign the role to existing authorities that already perform similar coordination.

Reusing Gigabit Infrastructure Act points

To avoid duplication, Article 12(1) further provides that "The Member States may designate for this purpose a single information point established under Regulation (EU) 2024/1309" — the Gigabit Infrastructure Act, which already requires single information points for gigabit electronic-communications networks. Reusing them would, as proposed:

  1. reduce the burden of creating entirely new bodies;
  2. promote consistency across digital-infrastructure projects; and
  3. ease coordination between data centre deployment and the connectivity infrastructure those centres depend on.

Harmonised functions

Whether one or several points are designated, Article 12(1) provides that the functions, procedures and mechanisms applicable to single information points under Regulation (EU) 2024/1309 — including those relating to digital access, administrative coordination and dispute settlement — would also apply here. That keeps support consistent regardless of how many points a Member State sets up.

What the points do

Under Article 12(2), the role of a single information point "may include, among other things," coordinating, facilitating, monitoring and sharing information on procedures relating to:

  • spatial planning and building permits;
  • environmental assessments;
  • authorisations on water abstraction, wastewater discharge, and heat utilisation and recovery;
  • compliance with administrative and reporting obligations;
  • information to the public, to increase acceptance of the project; and
  • applications for connection to electricity, heat or communications networks.

Two further duties stand out. Under Article 12(3), the single information point would assist in assessing whether a project may qualify as a strategic project under Article 14. And under Article 12(4), when providing support the point would have to pay particular attention to SMEs and, where appropriate, establish a dedicated communication channel for them. (Note the proposal's Article 12(4) text uses the term "single point of contact" here, but it refers to the single information point of this Article.)

What this means for you

For public-sector officials implementing CADA nationally or regionally, the "one or more" flexibility offers strategic options:

  1. Reuse over rebuild: Assess whether your existing Gigabit Infrastructure Act points can absorb the data centre workload; if so, designating them avoids the cost of new structures.
  2. Match your governance: Where planning and permitting are devolved, multiple regional points may work better than a single national body, keeping support close to those who know local land use, grid capacity and environmental constraints.
  3. Resource SME support: Whatever you designate, ensure it can meet the Article 12(4) duty toward SMEs, including a dedicated channel where appropriate.
  4. Cross-sector synergy: Reusing connectivity points can improve coordination between data centre developers and network operators, since data centres depend on robust connectivity.

Common misconceptions

  • "Each Member State must designate exactly one point for the whole country." Article 12(1) allows one or more. A decentralised, multi-point approach is permitted.
  • "Points under CADA must be created from scratch." Member States may reuse points already established under the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1309).
  • "Single information points grant permits." They coordinate, facilitate and inform. They would not replace the competent authorities that grant permits or carry out assessments; they ease the process rather than make the final decision.

Related

This is general information about a draft EU regulation, not legal advice.