[FSFE] IEA: EU Parliament advances in stengthenting the role of Free Software, yet needs more to improve

[press at fsfe.org]

 = IEA: EU Parliament advances in stengthenting the role of Free Software, yet needs more to improve =

[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230629-02.it.html ]

The two EP Committees for opinion, IMCO and LIBE, have today adopted
their texts on the Interoperable Europe Act. While both recognise the
importance of Free Software for this regulation, the inclusion of the
Free Software community in the Board remains uncertain. The wording on
proper monitoring and evaluation goes in the right direction.

The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and
the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) have
today adopted by a large majority their opinions on the Interoperable
Europe Act.

The IMCO Committee, following some of our demands [1] has highlighted
the need for public bodies and institutions to prioritise the use of
Free Software in order to support the creation of reusable solutions.
Furthermore, it has also recognised our demand for clearer objectives
and indicators to measure its achievement. Moreover, it has included
measures to report and monitor the number of Free Software solutions
developed and adopted by the public sector within the scope of the
Regulation.

Unfortunately, no amendments to include more stakeholders in the
Interoperable Europe Board were adopted, apart from the proposal to
include the European Parliament as an observer. Therefore it is now up
to the lead Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) to take
further steps forward in the direction of enriching the Board.

On the other hand, the LIBE Committee has briefly included the wording
to encourage Free Software solutions when it comes to enhancing
transparency in the processing of personal data within the scope of this
regulation. However, this wording still needs to be improved by more
firmly prioritising the use of Free Software for such purpose.

/Lina Ceballos, FSFE Project Manager states:/ “We welcome that the
European Parliament has taken notice of some of our demands, especially
when it comes to proper monitoring and evaluation. However, there is yet
the need to include more stakeholders in the governance. Thus we urge
decision makers to recognise the role that the Free Software community
could play in the Interoperable Board" /./   In the coming weeks, the
Committee on Industry, Research and Energiy (ITRE) will agree on its
text, which will most likely be voted in plenary after the summer break,
and then enter into the inter-institutional negotiations. We call upon
the decision makers to not only anchor the progress that IMCO and LIBE
have achieved with its opinion but also to undertake the actions needed
for a more inclusive governance approach by including the Free Software
community as part of the Interoperable Europe Board. This is also true
for the Council, that wants to exclude relevant stakeholders from
contributing to an Interoperable Europe [2].

 1: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230323-02.it.html
 2: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230623-01.it.html

  == Informazioni sulla Free Software Foundation Europe ==

  La Free Software Foundation Europe è una Onlus che incoraggia gli utenti
  ad avere il controllo della tecnologia. Il Software è presente in tutti
  gli aspetti della nostra vita ed è importante che questa tecnologia ci
  aiuti anziché limitarci. Il Software Libero garantisce a tutti il
  diritto di usare, studiare, modificare e condividere il software. Questi
  diritti aiutano a sostenere altre libertà fondamentali come il diritto
  di parola, la libertà di stampa e la privacy.

  La FSFE aiuta persone e organizzazioni a comprendere come il Software
  Libero contribuisce alla libertà, alla trasparenza e
  all'auto-determinazione.  Potenziamo i diritti degli utenti abolendo le
  barriere che esistono nell'adottare il Software Libero, incoraggiamo le
  persone ad usare e sviluppare il Software Libero e forniamo le risorse
  per consentire a tutti di promuovere ulteriormente il Software Libero in
  Europa. 

  https://fsfe.org