[PR] FSF Europe concludes two successful first years.

[Georg C. F. Greve]

FYI, this press release just went out.

Press-release of the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSF Europe)
For immediate release

   FSF Europe concludes two successful first years.

(Milano) Last weekend, the Free Software Foundation Europe held its
   2003 general assembly in Milano, Italy. After two years of
   operation, it was time to draw a first summary and also hold
   elections. 

   Georg Greve and Jonas Öberg were re-elected as president and
   vice-president for another two years, Werner Koch was appointed new
   Head of Office. The FSF Europe thanks the former Head of Office,
   Dr. Peter Gerwinski, for his time, work and dedication.

   During the general assembly, the FSF Europe drew a positive summary
   of the last two years. Highlights were becoming a partner of the
   European Commission in the AGNULA Information Society Technologies
   (IST) project within the first year and succeeding with its
   recommendation to give Free Software based projects preference for
   funding within the whole IST area of the sixth framework programme.

   Another highlight area rising in importance especially recently is
   the legal safety and maintainability of Free Software.

   In order to provide additional protection for Free Software, the
   FSF Europe has worked on its Fiduciary License Agreement (FLA), an
   agreement that allows authors to make the FSF Europe their
   fiduciary for all legal issues and that provides a possible
   solution for the needs of the numerous software projects that will
   need to establish some form of rights management.

   Among the plans for the future are the organisation of a meeting
   between the associated organisations of the FSF Europe, as well as
   increased work in the legal and political field, which is where the
   largest potential dangers to Free Software and the information age
   are currently arising.

   "Looking back at the past two years is fascinating. We were able to
   help convinving the the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights
   to commend Free Software to developing countries for its providing
   freedom and chances of sustainable local industries," says Georg
   Greve, president of the FSF Europe. "Also we opened the windows of
   opportunity with the European Commission. Our work for the next
   years will not only be to help creating more opportunities, but
   also to help people making use of them."

   Jonas Öberg, Vice President of the FSF Europe, adds: "FSF Europe is
   also a truly global organisation, even if Europe is our main
   focus. We have been called upon for advice by governments outside
   of Europe, giving us a chance to participate in political
   conferences from Tokyo, Japan to Washington, USA."

   The 2003 General Assembly was hosted by the Italian Chapter of the
   FSF Europe. "The GA came at an important time for the italian free
   software community", says Stefano Maffulli, Italian Chancellor.
   "The Italian government has just published an interesting report
   about Free Software in public administration and the renowed
   University Bocconi in Milan has recently held a conference on the
   economic viability of free software business."

   More information can be found in the two-year executive summary
   online at

   http://fsfeurope.org/documents/reports/es-2003.html


About the Free Software Foundation Europe

   The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSF Europe) is a charitable
   non-governmental organization dedicated to all aspects of Free
   Software in Europe. Access to software determines who may participate
   in a digital society. Therefore the freedoms to use, copy, modify and
   redistribute software - as described in the Free Software definition -
   allow equal participation in the information age. Creating awareness
   for these issues, securing Free Software politically and legally, and
   giving people freedom by supporting development of Free Software are
   central issues of the FSF Europe, which was founded in 2001 as the
   European sister organization of the Free Software Foundation in the
   United States.

   http://fsfeurope.org

   
Contact

   Europe:
        Georg C. F. Greve   <greve at fsfeurope.org>
        phone: +49-40-23809080
        fax:   +49-40-23809081

   Further contact information available at 
   
   http://fsfeurope.org/contact/