This week, the European Union (EU) published its “Tech Sovereignty” package, with a vision that puts Open Source at the heart of the EU’s digital sovereignty ambitions, while addressing many concerns and requests of Open Source communities.
In February of this year, the OSI submitted feedback for the EU’s Open Digital Ecosystems Strategy. Our feedback set out a vision for how Open Source could serve the EU’s digital sovereignty goals in a way that benefits both Open Source communities and the European Union.
Originally delayed twice, the strategy was eventually merged into the flagship Tech Sovereignty package. The wait was worth it: over a third of the 29-page document is devoted to Open Source, with many of the OSI’s key asks addressed, as well as some exciting new announcements! Below, we explore what we asked for and how the strategy delivers.
Procurement: Opening Doors for Open Source
One of the biggest barriers to Open Source adoption has been public procurement. Too often, tenders have been designed around proprietary solutions, ignoring the benefits of Open Source and locking public institutions into closed ecosystems. The OSI called for procurement rules that prioritize interoperability, reusability, and vendor independence.
