Merge pull request 'adding news on interoperability and ursula' (#3752 ) from news20230921-ursula into master

Reviewed-on: #3752
adding news on interoperability and ursula
2023-09-21 14:34:42 +00:00 · 2023-09-21 16:35:34 +02:00
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+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<html newsdate="2023-09-20">
+<version>1</version>
+
+<head>
+  <title>EU: Digital sovereignty &amp; Interoperability. What about the role of Free Software?</title>
+</head>
+
+<body>
+
+<h1>EU: Digital sovereignty &amp; Interoperability. What about the role of Free Software?</h1>
+
+<p>Speaking about Digital Public Infrastructures last week, EU 
+Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pointed out that "the trick 
+is to build public digital infrastructure that is interoperable, open 
+to all and trusted". What exactly does this mean? What is required to 
+achieve such an accessible digital infrastructure that can help foster 
+innovation and allow cooperation on a global scale? What role does Free 
+Software play in such ambition?</p> 
+
+
+<figure class="no-border">
+  <img 
+  src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/original/3c/b8/cafe70a1f15a50273e5ce6e053cc.jpg" 
+  alt="Map of the world interconnected" />
+</figure>
+
+
+<p>At the G20 summit 2023 in New Delhi, EU Commission President Ursula 
+von der Leyen has called the attention of the world to <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_4424">recognise the 
+importance of building a digital public infrastructure that is open to 
+everybody, that is interoperable and that connects us with one 
+another</a>. However, in order to understand what is behind this statement, it is 
+important to take a look at how the values of openness, digital 
+sovereignty and interoperability have guided the latest EU digital 
+policies.</p>
+
+<p>Over the last years, the EU has witnessed the emergence of an EU 
+discourse that highlights the need to strengthen the EU digital 
+sovereignty. Since the beginning of her candidature, EU Commission 
+President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged “technological sovereignty” 
+as one of her key priorities in the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/ip_19_5542/IP_19_5542_EN.pdf">ongoing 
+digital strategy of Europe(pdf)</a>. This has guided the EU in its 
+ambition <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2020-02/communication-shaping-europes-digital-future-feb2020_en_4.pdf">to 
+reduce dependencies on technology and to assure that such technology 
+empowers people (pdf)</a>.</p> 
+
+<p>With a common vision of the EU in 2030 – <a href="https://eufordigital.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2030-Digital-Compass-the-European-way-for-the-Digital-Decade.pdf">the 
+2030 Digital compass</a> has started to move Europe forward towards 
+more digital sovereignty “in an interconnected world by building and 
+deploying technological capabilities in a way that empowers people and 
+businesses to seize the potential of the digital transformation, and 
+helps build a healthier and greener society".</p>
+
+<h3>Digital sovereignty and Free Software</h3> 
+<p>In an era of increasing digitalisation, the core values of openness, accessibility, and 
+trustworthiness must lead the way. A crucial aspect of the 
+modernisation of our digital infrastructure is to ensure digital 
+sovereignty.</p> 
+
+<p>As stated by the European Commission in its Communication <a 
+href="https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2020-02/communication-shaping-europes-digital-future-feb2020_en_4.pdf">“Shaping 
+Europe Digital Future”(pdf)</a>: “European technological Sovereignty 
+starts from ensuring the integrity and resilience of our data 
+infrastructure, networks and communications. It requires creating the 
+right conditions for Europe to develop and deploy its own key 
+capacities, thereby reducing our dependency on other parts of the globe 
+for the most crucial technologies. Europe's ability to define its own 
+rules and values in the digital age will be reinforced by such 
+capacities.”</p> 
+
+<p>In this regard, Free Software serves as an enhancer for governments and public 
+institutions to build and maintain their digital systems without vendor 
+lock-in, ensuring long-term control, cost-efficiency, and digital 
+sovereignty. Moreover, it fosters innovation by allowing collaborative 
+contributions resulting in robust and secure software that can be 
+customized to meet specific public needs. By embracing Free Software, 
+potential vulnerabilities in such digital public infrastructure can be 
+easier identified and fixed while it promotes equitable access to 
+technology, and reinforces the fundamental democratic principles of 
+accountability and citizen engagement.</p>
+
+<p>This promotes a self-reliant approach to technology, empowering the EU to shape its digital future 
+in alignment with its values, regulations, and strategic interests, 
+while fostering a more competitive and technologically independent 
+European digital landscape.</p> 
+
+<p>As EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn has clearly stated “digitalisation cannot be seen in isolation” and “the 
+force of good” - Free Software - has also the potential to ensure the 
+proper use of public money, promote freedom of choice while guiding the 
+EU and the world in the efforts of <a href="https://youtu.be/h3SK96jLTSU?feature=shared">achieving a sovereign digital 
+infrastructure</a>.</p>
+
+<h3>Interoperability and Free Software</h3> 
+<p>Interoperability has 
+also played an important role in the digital efforts of an EU more 
+interconnected, open and sovereign. In order to be able to have 
+information systems and devices that work seamlessly together, a 
+critical infrastructure is needed, and Free Software together with Open 
+Standards play a fundamental role in these efforts.</p>
+
+<p>With projects such as <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/departments-and-executive-agencies/informatics/eu-fossa-2-free-and-open-source-software-auditing_en">“FOSSA” and “FOSSA2”</a> 
+with the goal to increase the security and integrity of the Free 
+Software used by European Institutions, <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/isa2/awards_en">“ISA”and “ISA2”</a>
+aiming to strengthening 
+interoperability across borders and sectors, as well as <a href="/news/2020/news-20201023-01.html">the latest EU 
+Open Source Strategy</a> and the further <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=C(2021)8759">“Commission decision on the Open Source licensing and reuse of 
+Commission software”</a>, Europe has slowly and ambitiously laying the foundation for a digitalisation that realises the role of Free Software. However, ahead, 
+there is still <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB9Wga-AaHk">a long way to effectively bring such efforts into 
+practice</a>, so that this can be translated into solutions to real-life problems.</p>
+
+<p>As EU Commission President von der Leyen has highlighted during her 
+statement at the G20 summit, the success of the <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/coronavirus-response/safe-covid-19-vaccines-europeans/eu-digital-covid-certificate_en">COVID19 digital 
+certificate in the EU</a> is a clear and practical example of what it is needed to tackle a 
+global crisis in the most efficient way: Free Software. Free Software 
+allowed a secure and transparent solution and also laid the groundwork 
+for the interoperability that was needed in such global crisis by 
+showing how collaboration can thrive a global solution.</p>
+
+
+<h3>EU about to take a landmark decision</h3> 
+<p>With the current 
+Interoperable Europe Act, the EU has already noted upon the need to 
+create a dedicated legal framework that can pave the way of an 
+interoperable digital landscape and is about <a href="/news/2023/news-20230323-02.html">to take a step ahead 
+towards a more sovereign and interoperable Europe</a>. Once finalised, the 
+proper implementation of this Act within member states is of paramount 
+importance to attain its full potential in fostering a unified and 
+harmonised digital environment across the European Union as well as to 
+amend the shortcomings that the final text might have when it comes to 
+realising the potential that Free Software has to offer for a more 
+interoperable Europe.</p> 
+
+<p>Ahead, there is the opportunity to assure a proper implementation of 
+this and other digital policies which will help to more clearly define 
+what Europe means with digital sovereignty and interoperability. It is 
+time to underlying the fundamental role that Free Software and its 
+community can play in the digitalisation of Europe.</p> 
+
+<h3>Summary </h3>
+<p>The EU has started to recognise the important role that Free 
+Software can play in the ambitious efforts of a more sovereign and 
+interoperable digital infrastructure in Europe. It has started to come 
+clear that Free Software can be a cornerstone of the EU's digital 
+policies aimed at enhancing digital sovereignty and interoperability.  
+By embracing Free Software, the EU can assert greater control over its 
+digital infrastructure, promote interoperability, spend taxpayers money 
+efficiently, improve security and privacy, foster innovation, and 
+collaborate with partners globally, ultimately leading to a more 
+self-reliant and digitally resilient European Union.</p>
+
+<p>Yet a decisive period ahead is the implementation in Member States of the some of 
+these digital policies that have come as a result of the ongoing 
+digital agenda and which will be decisive to ensure that Europe 
+achieves a sovereign and interoperable digital landscape.</p>
+
+</body>
+	
+<tags>
+  <tag key="front-page" />
+  <tag key="european-union">European Union</tag>
+  <tag key="policy">European Public Policy</tag>
+  <tag key="IEA">Interoperable Europe Act</tag>
+</tags>
+
+<discussion href="https://community.fsfe.org/t/1074"/>  
+<image url="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/3c/b8/cafe70a1f15a50273e5ce6e053cc.jpg" 
+  alt="Map of the world interconnected" /> 
+
+</html>
+
+
+
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
anaghz	c31ece5b16	Merge pull request 'adding news on interoperability and ursula' (#3752 ) from news20230921-ursula into master All checks were successful continuous-integration/drone/push Build is passing Details Reviewed-on: #3752	2023-09-21 14:34:42 +00:00
Ana Galan	4cb6347eba	adding news on interoperability and ursula All checks were successful continuous-integration/drone/pr Build is passing Details	2023-09-21 16:35:34 +02:00