= Interoperable Europe Act adopted, close monitoring vital =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240206-01.sv.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.sv.html
3: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230323-02.sv.html
== About the Free Software Foundation Europe ==
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology. Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our
lives; and it is important that this technology empowers rather than
restricts us. Free Software gives everybody the rights to use,
understand, adapt and share software. These rights help support other
fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, press and privacy.
The FSFE helps individuals and organisations understand how Free
Software contributes to freedom, transparency and self-determination. We
enhance users' rights by abolishing barriers to Free Software adoption,
encourage people to use and develop Free Software, and provide resources
to enable everyone to further promote Free Software in Europe.
https://fsfe.org