= 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.
https://fsfe.org