= The FSFE demands EU Commission sustainable long-term Free Software funding =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240911-01.nl.html ]
In the wake of the recent €27 million cut in the NGI funding, the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is responding to growing concern by participating in a public consultation of the European Commission. The FSFE is stressing the urgent need for sustainable, long-term financial support for Free Software to ensure Europe's technological independence.
The recent cut of €27 million allocated to funding for the Next Generation Internet initiative [1] has exposed the fragility of financial support for software freedom as a whole, and highlighted a critical issue: Europe needs sustainable, secure, and dedicated funding to ensure its control over technology through Free Software. Much of Europe's digital infrastructure relies on these projects [2] to ensure independence and resilience. Reducing or cutting funding threatens Europe’s technological autonomy.
In response to the European Commission's unclear stance [3] on future funding, the FSFE has participated in the public consultation, pushing to ensure that Free Software solutions receive the necessary long-term funding. This is the only way to successfully drive the digitalisation of Europe forward.
“The EU’s digital strategy can only reach its full potential if it systematically focuses on Free Software,” Alexander Sander, FSFE senior policy consultant, emphasizes. "We demand that public funds are allocated efficiently. Software freedom must be consistently supported with sustainable, long-term funding. After all, if it’s public money, it should be public code!".
1: https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240719-01.nl.html 2: https://www.ngi.eu/news/2024/07/11/ngi-impact-study/ 3: https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240808-01.nl.html
== Over de Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is een goed doel dat gebruikers in staat stelt om technologie te controleren. Software is sterk verweven met alle aspecten van onze levens. Het is belangrijk dat deze technologie ons tot iets in staat stelt in plaats van ons te beperken. Vrije Software geeft iedereen het recht om software te gebruiken, te begrijpen, aan te passen en te delen. Deze rechten helpen het ondersteunen van andere fundamentele vrijheden zoals de vrijheid van meningsuiting, pers en privacy.
De FSFE helpt individuen en organisaties begrijpen hoe Vrije Software bijdraagt aan vrijheid, transparantie en zelfbeschikking. We verbeteren gebruikersrechten door het opheffen van barrières voor de adoptie van Vrije Software, moedigen mensen aan om Vrije Software te gebruiken en te ontwikkelen en voorzien in middelen om iedereen in staat te stellen Vrije Software in Europa verder te promoten.
press-release-nl@lists.fsfe.org