European Commission issues call for evidence on open source

The European Commission has openeda "callfor evidence" to help shape its European Open Digital EcosystemStrategy. The commission is looking to reduce its dependence onsoftware from non-EU countries:

The EU faces a significant problem of dependence on non-EU countriesin the digital sphere. This reduces users' choice, hampers EUcompanies' competitiveness and can raise supply chain security issuesas it makes it difficult to control our digital infrastructure (bothphysical and software components), potentially creatingvulnerabilities including in critical sectors. In the last few years,it has been widely acknowledged that open source - which is a publicgood to be freely used, modified, and redistributed - has the strongpotential to underpin a diverse portfolio of high-quality and securedigital solutions that are valid alternatives to proprietary ones. Bydoing so, it increases user agency, helps regain control and boost theresilience of our digital infrastructure.

The feedback period runs until midnight (Brussels time)February3, 2026. The commission seeks input from all interestedstakeholders, "in particular the European open-source community(including individual contributors, open-source companies andfoundations), public administrations, specialised business sectors,the ICT industry, academia and research institutions".