European Commission needs to come up with dedicated budget for Free Software solutions
After the recent news that funding for the Next Generation Internet
initiative would be cut for the next phase of Horizon Europe, the
European Commission has expressed vague support for Free Software.
Unfortunately it is failing to provide concrete
examples on how to do so. This has highlighted the fragility
of funding for Software Freedom and the need for change in the
long-term.
A couple of weeks ago, we shared the news that the European
Commission has made the decision to stop funding the Next Generation
Internet initiative (NGI) in its then current draft for the Horizon
Europe 2025 Work Programme. Since 2018, the European Commission has supported the Free
Software ecosystem s through NGI, that provided funding and technical
assistance to Free Software projects. The FSFE has always been a part
of this initiative as a consortium member in the NGI Zero (NGI0)
sub-group, where we provide legal and licensing support to hundreds of
Free Software projects funded by the initiative.
Update from the European Commission: nice words but not long-term plan
The FSFE community has reached to the EU institutions and the Head
of Unit of Next Generation Internet (DG CNECT), answered. In this
letter, it is stated that the European Commission intends to support Free Software
solutions, but it is not clear how and if there will be a budget for
it:
“The Commission will continue to support Open-Source
solutions and the community supported in the NGI programme, in various
initiatives notably to harness its potential to contribute to the
transition of digital networks to a Connected and collaborative
computing and the evolution towards Web 4.0. Both topics are present in
the draft 2025 work programme to be approved by relevant Committee of
Member States and Associated Countries.”
While this is not a confirmation of renewed funding support for the
NGI initiative, it does indicate a vague level of intent to continue
supporting Software Freedom and Free Software development in the EU.
Nevertheless, without any concrete programmes where this funding can
go, and how it will be disbursed to grass-roots organizations that
support Software Freedom, the future of financial support for Free
Software in the EU remains sadly uncertain.
Sustainable funding needed
This development unfortunately exposes a larger issue: that software
freedom in the EU needs more secure, long-term financial support. That
this funding could so easily be left out of the Work Programme
discussions demonstrates how precarious its position has been all
along. Software Freedom needs to be consistently
supported with public funds, and such support should not be easily
displaced by decision-making that favours popular trends in
technological development.
Pressure helps – continue your efforts
This statement from the European Commission is a sign that our
persistence as well as from our community and various organizations
about the lack of proposed funding for NGI’s future has effect.
Following the news of the proposed cut in funding last month, there was
an outcry by us and from other Free Software organizations about how
this would negatively impact Free Software development in the EU.
Nevertheless, more work is definitely needed to continue to push for
funding support for NGI and Free Software. This is why the FSFE is
already in touch with various EU officials and
decision-makers to make sure this funding is secured for the future,
and we call for you to do the same to keep the pressure on the EC high
on this topic.
Reach the European Commission to ask for a sustainable funding
The reply from the European Commission shows that individual actions are helpful: since our
last news item on this
subject, as we’ve already seen how contacting
officials has been helpful to shift opinions. As the allocation
of funds for Horizon EU 2025 is still going on, there is still a chance
to get funds available for NGI:
Did you receive a response?If so, we kindly ask you to also
share these responses with us at contact@fsfe.org.
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