EU consultation confirms demand: long-term funding for Free Software is needed
The FSFE called on the community to participate in a consultation on the
European Union’s Digital Europe Programme and demanded long-term
sustainable funding for Free Software after recent budget cuts. Results
show its success.
In response to the European
Commission's €27 million budget cut for Free Software projects this
summer, the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) has been demanding
sustainable, long-term funding for Software Freedom. Last September, the FSFE participated in the
European Commission’s public consultation on the Digital Europe
Programme’s interim evaluation. FSFE stressed that reliable long-term
funding for Free Software is essential to drive Europe’s digitization
efforts towards sovereignty and control over technology.
The results of the interim evaluation were
presented today, and they show that the FSFE’s call to action, based
on our answers, was heard. Nearly 800 answers were received, —an
unusually high number for such consultations. In the open-ended
responses, participants highlighted Free Software as a vital component
of Europe’s digital future. Additionally, many respondents highlighted
Free Software’s role in enhancing cross-border collaboration and argued
that stable, dedicated funding for Software Freedom would maximize the
impact and value of Europe’s digital agenda. This feedback not only
emphasizes the importance of Free Software and its sustainable funding
for European digital policy, but also demonstrates the value of public
input and the need to provide citizens with meaningful tools to share
their opinions.
“The strong response from the public underscores what the FSFE has been
pointing out for years: Free Software is an essential tool for a
sovereign, transparent, collaborative, and innovative digital Europe.
Therefore Software Freedom must be supported with long-term
funding", says Alexander Sander, FSFE Senior Policy
Consultant.
The FSFE would like to thank everyone who contributed to the
consultation. Let’s keep working together for a sustainable funding
model for Free Software in Europe! More details on this important issue
will be covered in our next episode of the Software Freedom Podcast and on fsfe.org. Stay tuned!
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