[FSFE] Interoperable Europe Act adopted, close monitoring vital

[press at fsfe.org]

 = Interoperable Europe Act adopted, close monitoring vital =

[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240206-01.it.html ]

Today the Interoperable Europe Act has been adopted in plenary with 524
votes in favour, 18 against and 97 abstentions. Although some of the
potential of the regulation got undermined, the Act as a whole is an
important opportunity for Free Software and its community to contribute
to an interoperable Europe. The FSFE will closely monitor its
implementation.

Interoperability stands as a cornerstone in the establishment of a
seamlessly connected and digitalized infrastructure. Through the
Interoperable Europe Act, the EU is aiming to enhance interoperability
in cross-border digital public services. The FSFE has urged decision
makers to recognise the crucial role of Free Software and the expertise
of its community in achieving this goal in this regulation. As with our
Public Money? Pubic Code! Initiative [1], we have demanded decision
makers to acknowledge the role of Free Software in fostering digital
European public administrations while having control and sovereignty
over the software they are using and making sure that public funds are
spent in the most efficient way.

In spite of our efforts to integrate the Free Software community into
the decision making power body, the Interoperable Europe Board, decision
makers have opted to involve this community solely within the
Interoperable Europe Community. While this allows the community to
provide expertise, it underscores the importance of closely monitoring
the implementation of this regulation. Such monitoring helps identify
opportune moments for civil society, including the Free Software
community, to contribute effectively.

Beyond these limitations and some ambiguities in the wording in many
parts of the text (see Interoperable Europe Act: an ambition that turned
out to be watered-down [2] ), we welcome that decision makers have heard
some of our demands [3]. We managed to include provisions mandating the
European Commission to provide an annual report on the development of
Free Software interoperability solutions for public services, while
including requirements to set up actions in support of Free Software
interoperability solutions. These actions will be instrumental in
assessing the Act’s success in prioritising the use of Free Software and
will help us to keep being a watchdog on the matter.

/With the text now finalised, the most crucial phase of the regulation
begins - its implementation. We will monitor the implementation to make
sure that Free Software reaches its full potential as an enabler of
transparent, reusable and shareable solutions. We will also keep a close
watch for opportunities where the Free Software community can engage and
by providing its expertise support public administrations throughout the
EU in delivering Free Software interoperable digital services/ states
Lina Ceballos, FSFE Policy Project Manager.

 1: https://publiccode.eu
 2: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20231113-01.it.html
 3: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230323-02.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