The Free Software Foundation (FSF) started promoting the idea of sharing code way back in 1985, and since then it's defended the rights of computer users and developers. The FSF says that the terms "open" and "closed" are not effective words when classifying software, and instead considers programs either freedom-respecting ("free" or "libre") or freedom-trampling ("non-free" or "proprietary"). Whatever terminology you use, the imperative is that computers must belong, part and parcel, to the users, and not to the corporations that owns the software the computers run. This is why the GNU Project, and the Linux kernel, Freedesktop.org, and so many other open source projects are so important.
Digital Sovereignty
See the following -
23 European Cloud Technology Companies form the European Cloud Industrial Alliance (EUCLIDIA)
Press Release |
EUCLIDIA |
July 8, 2021
Today, 23 European companies have announced the creation of the European Cloud Industrial Alliance (EUCLIDIA) formed by independent European original technology manufacturers, for the promotion of digital independence and strategic autonomy...EUCLIDIA will carry the voice of European cloud technology innovators. Its members are all European-based with the majority of shareholders being European. Its mission is to provide lawmakers and policy makers with the field expertise and vision that will reinforce policies that accelerate the adoption and development of leading cloud technologies made in Europe. Such policies should reflect European values such as the protection of privacy and the promotion of fair competition while enabling European cloud industries to be competitive.
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European Commission Releases Study on the Impact of Open Source
By Paula Grzegorzewska | September 6, 2021
The European Commission’s landmark study on the impact of Open Source Software and Hardware finds that investments in open source software can be a major boost to the EU’s post-recovery economy, digital transformation and digital autonomy...The economic analysis shows that the open source sector is mature to the point of being considered for a tailored industrial policy, as well as inclusion in the EU’s major policy frameworks, such as the European Green Deal and the AI Act.
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Interview With Free Software Foundation Executive Director Zoë Kooyman
By Seth Kenlon | July 8, 2022
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Open Source Recognized As A Key Economic Pillar In European Union Study
By James Lovegrove | October 28, 2021
A September 2021 study on the economic impact of open source software and hardware concluded that open source technologies injected EUR 65-95 billion into the European economy. This study is timely given the current rollout of the European Union's EUR 750 billion recovery investment, which has allotted 20% for digital transformation. Growing political efforts to understand and quantify the importance of open source in realizing EU digital sovereignty accentuate the study's significance. The European Union sponsored the study, which was written by Fraunhofer ISI and OpenForum Europe.
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Open Source To Be The Norm In German Public Procurement
By Sivan Pätsch | January 21, 2022
On 8 December 2021 a coalition of SPD (Social Democratic Party, the Greens (Alliance 90 / The Greens) and Liberals (Free Democratic Party) took office after obtaining a majority in the 26 September federal elections. With the new government comes a renewed commitment to digitalisation of not only the public sector but society and economy at large...In the final coalition agreement open source software plays an important role. It is considered in a digital sovereignty and pan-European context, as a way to bring progress to digital infrastructure and government services. Interoperability, data portability, open standards and open source are all named as prerequisites to achieve digital sovereignty.
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The European Commission Adopts Updated Open Source Software Strategy for 2020-2023
Press Release |
European Commission |
October 21, 2020
On October 21st, the European Commission approved its new Open Source Software Strategy 2020-2023 of the Commission. This is an important step towards achieving the goals of the overarching Digital Strategy of the Commission and contributing to the Digital Europe programme. The internal strategy, under the theme ''Think Open'', sets out a vision for encouraging and leveraging the transformative, innovative and collaborative power of open source, its principles and development practices. It promotes the sharing and reuse of software solutions, knowledge and expertise, to deliver better European services that benefit society and lower costs to that society. The Commission commits to increasing its use of open source not only in practical areas such as IT, but also in areas where it can be strategic.
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EU Open Source Policy Summit 2021
The EU Open Source Policy Summit 2021 aims to build bridges and encourage exchanges between the vast Open Source community and European policymakers. At this virtual event, we will hear representatives from the many stakeholders working at the intersection of politics and technology. We look forward to convening this conversation at this critical juncture as discussions of Open Source move into a deeper understanding of the strategic role Open Source software and hardware will play in Europe’s digital future. Read More »
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Open Strategic Autonomy: Public and Private Sector Perspectives
The increased attention on digital autonomy stems from concerns regarding user-control of IT infrastructures, services and products that our economy depends on. In a soon-to-be-published paper by OpenForum Europe, we outline how these concerns are nothing new to people following the open technology space. Put simply, open technologies, in particular open source and open standards, give the user and developer the control that at a societal level delivers digital autonomy.
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Open Source Program Offices—New Approaches to Public Sector Open Source
OpenForum Europe (OFE) is excited to invite you to the release event of our report on Open Source Program Offices (OSPOs) in Government. The paper will be discussed over cocktails at the Hotel Mercure Toulouse Centre Compans in Toulouse (France), the evening before the Digital Assembly, the event co-hosted by the French Government and the European Commission. It is an opportunity for stakeholders in the European digital universe to discuss and share their experiences regarding progress on the digital single market and digital policies.
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Open Source as Sustainable Digital Infrastructure - OpenForum Europe
OpenForum Europe (OFE), together with the Swedish Public Sector Network Open Source and Data, are organizing a track on Cybersecurity, sustainability and Digital Sovereignty as part of the Internet Days in Stockholm, Sweden. Open source software is a critical and extensive part of our common digital infrastructure. It presents both opportunities and risks. Opportunities such as enhanced interoperability of infrastructure and services within and across borders, as well as reducing dependencies and lock-in to individual vendors and system solutions. The risks stem from sustainability issues and include the fact that many open source applications are maintained by volunteers and there is a general under-investment in maintenance.
This in a rapidly changing geopolitical and digital environment, where vulnerabilities, introduced knowingly or unknowingly, are increasingly at risk of being exploited by malicious third parties with potentially major consequences. As the public sector intends to reuse more of each other’s digital infrastructure, there is a growing need to ensure that what we do is secure. Therefore, this thematic track aims to show the extent of open source software in our own and shared digital infrastructure, and its importance for our digital sovereignty and cybersecurity.
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