Proposal for the European Commission 2024-2027 Open Source Strategy

The European Commission's commitment to Open Source software is a key aspect of Europe's digital agenda. Building on previous Open Source Strategy documents (2014-2017 and 2020-2023), we outline a proposal for a renewed and expanded strategy for 2024-2027, addressing evolving digital challenges and leveraging open source for innovation, transparency, and digital autonomy. The focus is on strengthening European digital sovereignty, enhancing open innovation, and fostering ethical and sustainable technologies.

Executive Summary: Goals for 2024-2027

This strategy emphasizes:

Strengthening European digital sovereignty to reduce dependency on technologies controles by non-European entities.
Enhancing open innovation ecosystems, fostering a thriving technological advancement environment.
Promoting ethical and sustainable digital technologies aligned with European values.
Scaling open data and interoperability for seamless cross-border and sectoral innovation.
Developing digital skills and literacy, focusing on open source principles and values.
Leading global collaboration on open standards and fostering open source security.
Promoting public sector innovation through open source, modernizing public services.

Action Plan

Strengthening European Digital Sovereignty

Establish European standards and technologies through partnerships and promote European tech.
Implement supportive regulatory frameworks and invest in European digital infrastructure.
Enforce a preference for open source software in public procurement to foster innovation and security.

Enhancing Open Innovation Ecosystems

Provide funding for open source projects and launch Open Innovation Hubs for collaboration.
Develop open source collaboration platforms for community building and knowledge sharing.

Fostering Ethical and Sustainable Digital Technologies

Integrate ethics and sustainability into open source projects and products and promote green computing practices.
Develop ethical and sustainability standards in open source projects.

Scaling Open Data and Interoperability

Expand open data initiatives and develop interoperability standards.
Facilitate cross-border data sharing and support standardization work.

Developing Digital Skills and Literacy

Integrate open source in education and launch training programs for digital skills.
Promote inclusion and diversity in technology, emphasizing open source's inclusive nature.

Creating a Robust Framework for Open Source Security

Establish security audits for open source projects and develop security guidelines.
Set up a rapid response mechanism for vulnerabilities in open source projects.

Promoting Public Sector Innovation through Open Source

Use open source to modernize public services and allocate funds for open source public sector projects.
Share government-developed open source software and assess the use of proprietary solutions.

Next Steps

Evaluate Previous Strategies

Conduct a comprehensive review of past strategies and gather stakeholder feedback.
Identify lessons learned and analyze the effectiveness of past strategies in meeting objectives.

Define New Objectives

Align the new strategy with the European Digital Strategy, addressing gaps and new challenges.
Set clear, ambitious goals based on evaluation and stakeholder engagement.

Develop and Launch the Strategy

Outline specific actions, responsible parties, and resources needed.
Communicate effectively to ensure broad support and engage with stakeholders across sectors.
Provide necessary support and resources for implementation, including funding and training.

Review and Adjust

Implement continuous monitoring and be agile in making adjustments based on feedback and technological advancements.

This proposal sets a comprehensive blueprint for leveraging open source as a strategic asset in Europe's digital future, aiming to strengthen digital sovereignty, foster innovation, and promote ethical and sustainable technologies.