Announcement of Submission

The European Pirates submitted its response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on the Open Source Software Strategy on 3 February 2026.

European Commission’s Call For Evidence

On 6 January, 2026, the European Commission opened a forum to invite consultations and gather feedback on the results achieved during the 2020-2023 period (use, development, and reuse of digital assets) under the Commission’s Open Source Software Strategy. This call for evidence is part of the European Commission’s initiative to develop an Open-Source digital ecosystem in the European Union to achieve the objectives of cybersecurity, technological sovereignty, and global competitiveness, which in turn falls under the umbrella of the EU’s Digital Decade plan 2030.

Below is the context of the Call for Evidence, the considerations that informed European Pirates’ response, and the process through which the submission was developed. Our response is available separately.

Why This Call Matters

The development of a robust, public, and open-source digital ecosystem across Europe requires a well-coordinated effort. This underscores the importance of including the opinions of all stakeholders: EU member governments, technology infrastructure providers, civil society organisations & NGOs, businesses & industry (non-tech), academic and research institutions, and the public.

Ideas or initiatives require careful assessment of past results, current conditions across technical, geopolitical, logistical, and economic perspectives, and their likely long-term impact on various segments of society. Omitting this crucial step in policymaking can hinder a well-intentioned plan from becoming an effective, impactful policy.

European Pirates’ Response To The Call

As an organisation, the European Pirates stands for a digital society grounded in fundamental rights, democratic control, transparency, and shared public value. Committed to the objective of a digital Europe that is open, decentralised, and respects human rights, European Pirates engaged with the Call for Evidence and submitted a formal response.

The European Pirates’ response emphasizes the need to support and encourage open-source projects within the EU, particularly amid an evolving global political and technological landscape. In their response to the Commission’s “Call to the evidence,” the European Pirates raised important questions about the pace, scale, and governance. The core objective is to reiterate the importance of balance between supporting innovation and enabling rapid development. The submitted proposal focuses on “Key Opportunities and Key Risks,” explaining the need to avoid placing unnecessary constraints on projects that undermine core EU principles such as privacy, security, and good data management.

The European Pirates view this consultation as a matter of urgency, as the EU’s reliance on non-EU proprietary infrastructure is a significant concern.

Research and inputs informing the response

The preparation of the response drew on policy analysis, prior organisational positions, and external inputs.

Our policy team began with the European Pirates’ manifesto and core principles, using them as a reference point to assess the direction and implications of the Commission’s initiative. Our policy team conducted an extensive review of existing and proposed EU legislation, along with relevant policy proposals, to understand how the objectives of the Open Source Software Strategy interact with the current regulatory landscape.

In parallel, commentary and analysis from civil society organisations were examined to cross-reference the proposed approach with existing or in-implementation practices. This comparative approach helped identify areas where new initiatives risk duplicating, contradicting, or undermining existing legal frameworks. Previous experiences, such as debates around proposals that conflicted with established rights and safeguards, were considered instructive in this regard, underscoring the importance of policy coherence.

In addition, input was sought from member organisations and affiliated parties, allowing for a broader range of perspectives to inform the analysis. In addition, the direct involvement of some of our policy team members in Open-Source projects provided first-hand insight into practical implementation considerations.

Key Takeaways

With world politics, market forces, and perspectives of global civil societies intertwining and cutting into one another, technology is neither untouched nor neutral. Open digital ecosystems help increase transparency, lower dependence on major non-EU players, and support innovation that is both competitive and responsible. Factors such as procurement practices, funding models, governance frameworks, and infrastructure choices will play a decisive role in shaping the future of open digital ecosystems in Europe. This is why the European Pirates strongly believe and advocate that digital infrastructure that holds power, agency, and access must be designed, governed, and maintained in the public interest.

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