This paper provides a qualitative analysis of the state of open source policy in the EU, showcasing the growing significance of open source technologies within the public sector. It is based on research carried out for the Country Intelligence reports series, analysing 15 European and non-European countries. Through this, it aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers, public administration officials, and the open source community.
The research finds that there is an increased adoption of open source to achieve digital sovereignty and transparency amid concerns over data privacy and control of digital infrastructure. Cities, regions, and municipalities are public administration first-adopters of open source technology, due to its adaptability and cost-effectiveness. There has also been an increase of Open Source Programme Offices (OSPOs) nationally, while the international stage saw an uptake of global initiatives for open source.
OFE created this report for the European Commission’s Open Source Observatory (OSOR), a trustworthy observatory that provides FOSS expertise and information to the Free and Open Source community and public administrations the like. It serves as middle-ground to connect European Public Administrations with other relevant stakeholders, while supporting and promoting the Free and Open Source software community. OFE is a regular contributor to the Observatory.
Lead authors: Axel Thévenet, Paula Grzegorzewska, Ciarán O’Riordan, Jaakko Karhu & Ola Adach
Disclaimer
This report was produced by OpenForum Europe for the Interoperable Europe initiative of the Digital Europe Programme under the Specific Contract 32 FWC DI 07929-00 BEACON Lot 2 with the consortium DELOITTE CONSULTING & ADVISORY, WAVESTONE.
The information and views set out in this study are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Commission. This study has been carried out for information and consultation purposes only. It has not been adopted and should not be regarded as representative of the views of Commission staff. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on the European Commission’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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