# European Elections - Questions to candidates (rough translation) Author: S. Fermigier <sf@abilian.com> Dates: - 30/03/2024 v. 1 (sent to main French political parties) - 28/03/2024 v. 0.3 (introduction added) - 26/03/2024 v. 0.2 (adjustments following feedback from Cédric Ulmer) - 14/03/2024 v. 0.1 Note that this is a rough translation of the original letter, written in French: https://cnll.fr/news/le-cnll-se-mobilise-pour-les-%C3%A9lections-europ%C3%A9ennes/ ## Introduction To the candidates of the European elections, In the midst of our era's digital transformation, free software, also known as open source, has become a critical foundation for innovation and creativity. It also serves as a vital element for Europe's digital sovereignty. Given its economic impact (evidenced by recent studies showing that it constitutes close to 10% of the software and IT services market in Europe, and 95% of all software used in Europe contains open source components, among other findings), it plays a strategic role in enhancing our technological independence. Its values foster a more inclusive, transparent, and resilient digital society. Digital sovereignty is about more than security and economics; it's a matter of democracy that demands a thoughtful, balanced, and proactive stance. This involves Europe's capability to develop, maintain, and control the digital infrastructure and software that are foundational to our daily lives, our economy, and our governance. Open source software presents unparalleled opportunities for accessibility, customization, and security, encouraging open innovation and cross-border cooperation. The European Union and its Member States have already initiated policies supporting open source software, acknowledging its strategic significance. Nevertheless, it's crucial to intensify and sustain these efforts, expanding them into a real industrial policy that backs this sector, to keep Europe at the leading edge of global digital transformation, safeguarding our values and independence. As we approach the May 2024 elections, your vision and dedication to open source software and digital sovereignty are paramount. We invite you to respond to the questions below and to provide any additional information you deem relevant. This is an opportunity to share your views and proposals for a open, secure, and sovereign European digital future, advocating for the broader adoption of open source software and innovative policies that promote its growth and integration across all societal sectors. Sincerely, Stefane Fermigier, on behalf of CNLL ## Our Questions ### Digital Sovereignty and Governance - **Digital Sovereignty**: How do you define digital sovereignty and what specific actions do you envisage to strengthen the digital sovereignty of the economy, politics and society in Europe, in particular through the role of free software? - **Open Source Software in the European Parliament and the Public Administration**: What measures do you plan to take to promote the use of open source software in the European Parliament and the European administration, in particular in public procurement law or other legislation or administrative regulations? Do you have any other initiatives planned to promote open source software? - **Sovereign Cloud Services**: How do you plan to support the restructuring of the European public administration's IT infrastructure to promote the use of open source alternatives to proprietary cloud offerings, and what strategies do you intend to adopt for the development of digitally sovereign administrative clouds? - **OSS Community Involvement in Legislative Initiatives**: How do you intend to involve open source communities earlier and more effectively in European legislative initiatives? - **Access to Public Data and Open Data**: What measures will you take to improve access to public data and promote a culture of open data within the European Union, in particular by using platforms and formats based on free software? ### Education and Training - **Integrating Free Software into Education**: How do you plan to integrate the use and teaching of free software into school and university curricula in Europe to encourage innovation, digital sovereignty and an understanding of the importance of open source among young Europeans? - **Training Teachers and Trainers in Open Source Software**: What initiatives do you plan to take to train teachers and trainers in the benefits and use of open source software, to ensure that open digital skills are effectively passed on to future generations? - **Open Educational Resources (OER)**: How do you intend to promote the development and use of Open Educational Resources (OER) in educational establishments in Europe to facilitate access to quality education and support pedagogical innovation? - **Recognition of Free Software Skills**: How do you intend to recognise and value the skills acquired through the use of and contribution to free software in the context of vocational training and employability in Europe? ### Support for SMEs - **Support for SMEs in the free software sector**: How do you intend to specifically support European SMEs in the free software sector in order to create an IT economy that guarantees digital sovereignty through competition and the ability to innovate? - **Market Access for Free Software SMEs**: In particular, how do you intend to facilitate access to European public procurement markets for SMEs specialising in free software, and what measures do you propose to reduce the administrative and financial barriers they face? - **Adapting the Small Business Act for Open Source Software**: In particular, how do you plan to adapt the Small Business Act to better support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the open source software sector in Europe? - **Promotion of the 'Buy European Act' for Software Solutions**: What specific measures do you propose to encourage institutions and public administrations to favour the purchase of software solutions developed by European companies, particularly in the field of open source? - **Tax Incentives and Funding**: Do you envisage introducing tax incentives or specific funding programmes to encourage the creation and development of SMEs in the open source sector, as well as to support their participation in innovation and research projects? - **European Free Software Support Network for SMEs**: How do you plan to create or support a European network dedicated to supporting SMEs in the free software sector, to encourage knowledge sharing, inter-company collaboration and access to shared resources? ## Innovation - **Open Source Innovation and Research**: How would you support partnerships between universities, research centres and the open source industry to stimulate open source innovation and research, and what role could these collaborations play in strengthening European competitiveness? - **Local and Regional Innovation Ecosystems**: What strategies do you propose to strengthen local and regional innovation ecosystems by integrating open source SMEs, thereby encouraging collaboration between companies, universities and research centres? - **Participation of SMEs in EU-funded R&D projects**: How do you plan to simplify access for OSS SMEs to EU-funded research and development programmes, such as Horizon Europe, in order to maximise their contribution to technological innovation? ### Specific Policies and Initiatives - **Funding Programmes for OSS**: What funding programmes do you envisage to support the development and adoption of OSS in Europe? - **Budgets for OSS**: What proportion of the budget do you wish to allocate specifically to OSS for defined projects, and what is the ideal proportion of OSS you are aiming for in all public sector procurement and development in Europe? - **Standards and Interoperability**: What is your vision for promoting open standards and interoperability within the European Union, in order to make it easier for SMEs to integrate open source solutions in diverse technological environments? ### Participation and Collaboration - **Cross-border collaboration**: How will you facilitate cross-border collaboration between open source SMEs in Europe? - **Social Inclusion through Free Software**: What specific measures are you planning to promote the use of free software as a tool for social inclusion and equal access to technologies for all EU citizens, including disadvantaged populations? - **Sustainability and Digital Ecology** : Open source software contributes to the ecological transition and digital sustainability within the EU. What policies do you intend to put in place to encourage this contribution? - **Civil Society Participation in the Free Software Ecosystem**: How do you intend to engage and support civil society in the development and adoption of free software, to ensure that technologies reflect the needs and values of European citizens?