= IEA: EU Parliament advances in stengthenting the role of Free Software, yet needs more to improve =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230629-02.en.html ]
The two EP Committees for opinion, IMCO and LIBE, have today adopted
their texts on the Interoperable Europe Act. While both recognise the
importance of Free Software for this regulation, the inclusion of the
Free Software community in the Board remains uncertain. The wording on
proper monitoring and evaluation goes in the right direction.
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and
the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) have
today adopted by a large majority their opinions on the Interoperable
Europe Act.
The IMCO Committee, following some of our demands [1] has highlighted
the need for public bodies and institutions to prioritise the use of
Free Software in order to support the creation of reusable solutions.
Furthermore, it has also recognised our demand for clearer objectives
and indicators to measure its achievement. Moreover, it has included
measures to report and monitor the number of Free Software solutions
developed and adopted by the public sector within the scope of the
Regulation.
Unfortunately, no amendments to include more stakeholders in the
Interoperable Europe Board were adopted, apart from the proposal to
include the European Parliament as an observer. Therefore it is now up
to the lead Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) to take
further steps forward in the direction of enriching the Board.
On the other hand, the LIBE Committee has briefly included the wording
to encourage Free Software solutions when it comes to enhancing
transparency in the processing of personal data within the scope of this
regulation. However, this wording still needs to be improved by more
firmly prioritising the use of Free Software for such purpose.
/Lina Ceballos, FSFE Project Manager states:/ “We welcome that the
European Parliament has taken notice of some of our demands, especially
when it comes to proper monitoring and evaluation. However, there is yet
the need to include more stakeholders in the governance. Thus we urge
decision makers to recognise the role that the Free Software community
could play in the Interoperable Board" /./ In the coming weeks, the
Committee on Industry, Research and Energiy (ITRE) will agree on its
text, which will most likely be voted in plenary after the summer break,
and then enter into the inter-institutional negotiations. We call upon
the decision makers to not only anchor the progress that IMCO and LIBE
have achieved with its opinion but also to undertake the actions needed
for a more inclusive governance approach by including the Free Software
community as part of the Interoperable Europe Board. This is also true
for the Council, that wants to exclude relevant stakeholders from
contributing to an Interoperable Europe [2].
1: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230323-02.en.html
2: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230623-01.en.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
= Cyber Resilience Act: First committee backs FSFE demand to protect Free Software =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230629-01.en.html ]
The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) today
launched a landmark decision to protect Free Software developers in the
Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).
The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) today
launched a landmark decision to protect Free Software developers in the
Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). In September last year, the EU Commission
presented the CRA. The proposal to exclude Free Software “outside the
course of a commercial activity” would fail to address a large part of
software that will not be covered but is deployed. Furthermore, smaller
and non-profit projects would be harmed as they would have to bear major
costs. We, therefore, proposed a solution [1] that will lead to more
security while safeguarding the Free Software ecosystem:
1. Liability should be shifted to those deploying Free Software instead
of those developing Free Software and
2. Those who significantly financially benefit from this deployment
should make sure the software becomes CE-compliant
/Alexander Sander, FSFE Senior Policy Consultant explains:/ "The
Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, a committee for
opinion in CRA, has backed our demand and voted for the protection of
Free Software developers in the Cyber Resilience Act. We are
particularly delighted with the transfer of those protections into an
article and the precise description of how Free Software should be
protected in the future. The lead committee is now called upon to follow
this vote" /./ Shortly, the leading committee, Committee on Industry,
Research and Energy (ITRE), will define its position and submit it to
the plenary for a vote. After that, the trialogue with Parliament,
Council and Commission will begin in order to reach a final agreement.
At the same time, similar rules are being negotiated in the Product
Liability Directive (PLD). Here, too, FSFE is calling for the protection
of developers of Free Software [2]. We thank all those organisations and
individuals contributing to this position and making sure to safeguard
Free Software in those files.
1: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230323-01.en.html
2: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230323-01.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
= EU: Majority for AI Act – and safeguards for Free Software =
[ Read online: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230614-01.en.html ]
The European Parliament today voted in favour of the AI Act with 499
votes in favour, 28 against, and 93 abstentions. Free Software is given
safeguards, these rules must now be defended in the trilogue and
transferred to the Cyber Resilience Act and the Product Liability
Directive.
With a large majority, the plenary of the EU Parliament today confirmed
the compromises [1] of the lead committees from May. The AI Act contains
a far-reaching exemption from this regulation for non-profit
organisations as well as small Free Software projects up to the size of
micro-enterprises. The position of the EU Parliament must now be
defended in the upcoming trilogue, in which the final text will be
negotiated together with the Council and the Commission.
/"With today's decision, the EU Parliament has demonstrated how Free
Software can be regulated in a meaningful way. Developers must be
protected, but at the same time those who significantly benefit on the
market with the use of Free Software must also be responsible. This
principle must now also be anchored in the Cyber Resilience Act and the
Product Liability Directive", explains Alexander Sander, Senior Policy
Consultant of the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE)/
More information on the negotiations on the Cyber Resilience Act and the
Product Liability Directive can be found here [2].
1: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230511-01.en.html
2: https://fsfe.org/news/2023/news-20230323-01.en.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