The OFE Lounge series provides a platform for dialogue between the open source and standardisation communities, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration in support of Europe’s digital policy objectives. Through structured discussions and expert exchanges, it aims to strengthen the links between open, community-driven development and formal standardisation processes, helping align technical innovation with the public interest.
The OFE Lounge 2026 will focus on the reform of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 governing the European standardisation system. The review comes at a time when standardisation is under renewed pressure from rapid digital transformation, new software regulation, and increased geopolitical competition over technology governance and need for digital sovereignty.
The series will explore how Europe can ensure its standardisation system remains inclusive, agile and strategically relevant, particularly as software and open collaboration reshape how standards are developed.
As in previous editions, the Lounge will provide a neutral forum for exchange between European Standards Organisations (ESOs), open source foundations, policymakers, industry and civil society, under the Chatham House Rule.
Speakers
Dirk Willem van Gulik
VP of Public Policy, The Apache Software Foundation
Sessions overview
6 May 2026 18:00 to 18:50
Reforming Regulation 1025: Agility, Inclusiveness and Governance
The European Commission’s 2025 evaluation confirmed that Regulation 1025/2012 i of continuous relevance. However, it also highlighted the need for greater inclusiveness, agility and responsiveness. This session will explore how these objectives can be achieved without undermining coherence, quality or the role of the ESOs. It will address governance, procedural bottlenecks and the scope for flexible cooperation with fora and consortia. The panel will also approach the possibility to create an IT standardisation hub.
Andreea Gulacsi Director of Policy and External Affairs, CEN-CENELEC- Jochen Friedrich Technical Relations Executive, IBM
- Markus Reigl Director of Technical Regulation and Standardisation, Siemens AG
13 May 2026 18:00 to 18:50
Software and the New Legislative Framework (NLF): Aligning Regulation with Reality
Through acts such as the CRA, AI Act, Data Act, regulation is now increasingly extending to software. Because of this, long-standing concepts such as “product”, “manufacturer”, “conformity assessment”, “compliance”, are showing their limits. This session examines how software’s iterative and collaborative nature challenges regulatory and standardisation processes. The panel will also look at the debated term “volunteer” and the borderless nature of collaborative development. Finally, connections will be drawn between the CRA related insights, open source, and the NLF.
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Dr. Sachiko Muto
Chair, Member of the Management Board
Sachiko Muto is the Chair of OpenForum Europe and a senior researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. She originally joined OFE in 2007 and served for several years as Director with responsibility for government relations and then as CEO. Sachiko has degrees in Political Science from the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics; she received her doctorate in standardisation policy from TU Delft.
- Andrea Raffaelli Senior Policy Adviser and Expert Coordinator at the Small Business Standards
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20 May 2026 18:00 to 18:50
Publicly available specifications (PAS), the way to a faster standard-drafting process?
Publicly available specifications (PAS) are fast-track standards, specifications, codes of practice or guidelines developed by interested organisations which can meet an immediate market need. The PAS also set industry-wide standards and are produced following consultations with a variety of stakeholders. They allow to speed-up the reaction time with respect to a classical standard, in situations in which a new technology emerges and the market needs to quickly adapt. The panel will discuss the role of PAS in emerging technologies, what they imply in terms of stakeholders participation, and how they could improve the flexibility of the current system.
- Mercedes Mira Cost Standards Strategy & Policy Lead, Europe, HP Inc.
- Simon Phipps Standards and EU Policy Director, OSI
- Samina Husain Secretary General, Ecma International
27 May 2026 18:00 to 18:50
The potential of open standards: shaping the EU’s approach to AI, data sharing and digital infrastructure, and promoting sovereignty
Open standards hold potential to shape the EU’s approach to AI, data sharing, and digital infrastructure by fostering interoperability, breaking down market silos, and enabling cross-border collaboration. They align with key EU regulations by promoting transparency, compliance, and fair competition, while also reducing dependency on non-EU tech providers and strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty and resilience. The panel will look at how embracing open standards could accelerate innovation, ensure market access, and build a more cohesive, future-proof digital ecosystem across the EU. The discussion will also tackle interoperability and data sharing aspects, as well as building strategies that mitigate vendor lock-in and over-reliance on non-EU providers.
- Karen McCabe Senior Director of Standards Technology Policy at IEEE Standards Association
- Astor Nummelin Carlberg Director of Open Source Sovereingthy at SUSE
- Matteo Gori Manager for Policy Analysis, Intellera COnuslting
Register for the event
Organised by OpenForum Europe as part of the StandICT.eu 2026 project.