Europe is revisiting the rules that shape how public administrations exchange data and build digital services. The Free Software Foundation Europe argues that this should be more than an administrative update: Free Software and Open Standards should become the default for procuring, developing, and adapting public systems.
From “consider it” to “use it by default”
The current European Interoperability Framework recommends active and fair consideration of Free Software. The FSFE is asking for a stronger principle: publicly funded digital services should primarily be built as Free Software and use standards that can be implemented without closed licensing barriers or dependence on a single vendor.
This is not only about licences. Source access lets institutions audit systems, contract different suppliers, share improvements across borders, and continue maintenance after an original contract ends. Open Standards keep public data from becoming hostage to one product or proprietary format.
The Dimitrium view: public infrastructure must remain publicly governable
Digital sovereignty means little when a government formally owns its data but still depends on a private vendor’s permission, pricing, or product strategy to use it. “Free Software by default” does not exclude commercial companies. It creates a broader market for development and support under conditions the public sector can control.
The FSFE also calls for practical procurement guidance, protection against openwashing, sustainable ecosystem funding, and a meaningful role for civil society. Without those measures, openness can remain a slogan rather than an operating principle.