I received this newsletter from the Free Software Foundation Europe some days ago:
On 18 November, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the digital ministers from 24 EU Member States met in Berlin for the Summit on European Digital Sovereignty. The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) was also invited.
As I entered the conference hall that morning, one question came to mind: Would Europe’s political debate, here today, finally recognise that we need technology we can control and shape? Would this be the moment for Free Software?
Unfortunately, it turned out differently. In the speeches that followed, Free Software was mentioned for the first time only after two and a half hours. Most proposed solutions went no further than a “buy European” approach to software procurement. A modest consolation: Chancellor Merz at least mentioned the Federal Government’s Free Software projects in his closing remarks. It is certainly noteworthy that many decision-makers now understand the risks of our digital dependency and are aware of its far-reaching implications. But even by the end of 2025, one crucial insight has still not taken hold among digital policymakers: Only Free Software can end these dependencies and enable digital sovereignty in Europe.
The FSFE’s answer to this dangerous dependency in our public administrations is clear: “Public Money? Public Code!” When public money is spent on software, it must always be Free Software. Throughout the year, the FSFE has worked to advance this principle across Europe.
• In key consultations, for example on EU procurement reform and the next multi-year EU budget, we called for the introduction of a strategic Free Software requirement in public tenders and for secure long-term funding for Free Software.
• We monitored progress towards “Public Money? Public Code” in European member states, for instance in Denmark and Germany, where we openly criticised problematic developments under the newly elected Federal Government, and urged that the Germany Stack be developed entirely as Free Software.
• At local level, progress was visible too, including the adoption of a motion in favour of “Public Money? Public Code!” by the Municipal Assembly of Lisbon.
• We addressed Openwashing at conferences and in discussions with public administrations, and presented strategies to counter it.
Two moments from this year stand out particularly for me. In April, at our FSFE expert conference “Public Money? Public Code! in Practice”, 60 people from local administrations, academia, and politics came together to share how public administrations are already taking action and advancing the use of Free Software. That discussion made visible how many committed people across the public sector are working towards the goal of “Public Money? Public Code!” — and how much clearer political backing could strengthen and accelerate their efforts.
At the invitation of our Danish FSFE team, I travelled to Copenhagen in June to discuss digital sovereignty at a public panel. Against the backdrop of US claims on Greenland, it was more palpable in the Danish capital than in Germany and some other European countries that our digital dependency is increasingly risky, and that Free Software is essential for our public administrations if we are to overcome it. What I also felt in Denmark was that more and more people understand this connection and see the importance of standing up for “Public Money? Public Code!”.
100% Free Software for European public administrations is an ambitious goal — one we will not achieve tomorrow, nor in two years’ time. But you can be sure: The FSFE will continue to work persistently towards this objective, with determination and a long-term perspective.
In 2026, a key focus of our work will be the EU procurement reform, to make the strategic procurement of Free Software the norm. With the Germany Stack and comparable projects across Europe, we will argue even more clearly for digital sovereignty through Free Software and for cross-border collaboration. We will take our expert conference “Public Money? Public Code! in Practice” to other European countries. And we will remain vigilant, clearly calling out issues such as Openwashing and the misleading claim that “buy European” alone delivers digital sovereignty.
To continue this work, we now need your long-term support:
Become an FSFE supporter now and contribute to advancing “Public Money? Public Code!” across Europe.
Best regards,
Johannes Näder
FSFE Senior Policy Project Manager
