EU Tech Sovereignty: A milestone for Public Code? Now implementation is key - FSFE
EU Tech Sovereignty: A milestone for Public Code? Now implementation is key
The European Commission published its Technological Sovereignty
Package on 3 June 2026, containing the new "Open Source Strategy". If
implemented, it could mark a paradigm shift by adopting the Free
Software Foundation Europe’s “Public Money? Public Code!” principle.
Its success will depend on binding rules, long-term funding, and
meaningful civil society involvement.
The European Union currently spends an estimated €264 billion per
year, predominantly on proprietary IT products and services, cementing
systemic dependencies and vendor lock-in. To counter this, [the European
Commission’s new strategy](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-tech-sovereignty) positions Free Software, also known as Open
Source, as a strategic enabler for European competitiveness, explicitly
recognising the freedoms to use, study, share, and improve software. The
upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) introduces a Free Software
first principle for “public cloud and AI software procurement”,
requiring public administrations to make software purchased with public
funds available for reuse. However, loopholes might be exploited and the non-binding Strategy now needs strong backing by the Commission to achieve technological sovereignty through Free Software.
“The European Commission’s explicit recognition of [‘Public Money?
Public Code!’](https://publiccode.eu/) in this strategy, nine years after the FSFE launched the
initiative, could become a major step forward for software freedom in
Europe. However, the Commission still falls short on concrete goals,
milestones, and secure funding for Free Software. The procurement reform
will be a test: ‘Public Money? Public Code!’ must become a mandatory
requirement for public tendering. Redirecting even half of Europe’s €264
billion in IT spending from proprietary lock-in to Free Software
would boost European tech sovereignty”, says Johannes Näder, FSFE Senior
Policy Project Manager.
“We welcome the Commission’s commitment to invest across the entire
software stack, including Free Software operating systems for mobile
devices, which is essential for device neutrality and user choice. It
also creates opportunities for individuals, public administrations, and
companies to develop and maintain technology under their own control.
What matters now is implementation. These commitments need secured,
long-term funding, meaningful involvement of independent experts and
civil society, and effective enforcement of the Digital Markets Act to
ensure Free Software can thrive in a fair market”, says Lucas Lasota,
FSFE Legal Programme Manager.
Key elements of the Tech Sovereignty Package
- To counter the structural disadvantages faced by European SMEs, and
Free Software companies in particular, under frameworks historically
tailored to proprietary vendors, CADA introduces a Free Software first
requirement, supported by new tendering guidelines to eliminate vendor
lock-in, but mainly for public cloud and AI contracts.
- The package prioritises critical technology areas for Free Software
development, including semiconductors such as RISC-V, cloud stacks, AI
frameworks, and Free Software mobile operating systems.
- The EU aims to mobilise €2 billion over seven years "for all measures under the open source strategy", including a maintenance instrument to provide sustained
financial support for critical dependencies – still a small fraction of
the €264 billion spent yearly on proprietary software and services.
- In partnership with Member States and European Digital
Infrastructure Consortia (EDICs), the EU aims to reach at least 30
million active users for Free Software collaboration tools and secure
messaging by 2030.
- The Commission addresses the lack of independent digital education
and tools in the education sector by announcing support for a Free
Software suite for schools and universities, as well as vendor-agnostic
training.
The FSFE will actively engage with the European Parliament, Member
States, and civil society partners to transform these strategic goals
into concrete, legally binding projects.
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About the FSFE
Free Software Foundation Europe is a charity that empowers users to
control technology.
Software is deeply involved in all aspects of our lives. It is important
that this technology empowers rather than restricts us. Free Software
gives everybody the rights to use, study, share, and improve software.
These rights help support other fundamental rights like freedom of
speech, freedom of press, and privacy.