Hi all, Many of you will be aware of this, but the open letter (https://kde.org/ announcements/2024_ngi_openletter/) we signed and supported did not have the desired effect and we are still not in the clear.
Unfortunately this will have a dampening effect on all KDE, not only those projects developed by EU contributors. Please share and, if you are an EU citizen, participate in the consultation and surveys and help keep FLOSS funded. Cheers Paul ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [By 2024-09-20] Support needed for Free Software in EU Consultation Date: Wednesday 11 September 2024, 12:13:24 CEST From: Lina Ceballos <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Dear all, In light of the recent €27 million cut in NGI funding[1], which has underscored the fragility and precarious nature of funding for Free Software, the need for long-term, sustainable support has become more evident than ever. We would like to encourage you to help us in safeguarding the future of software freedom by participating in the ongoing consultation for the Digital Europe Programme [2]. This consultation presents a key opportunity to advocate for stable funding and ensure Free Software remains a priority in Europe’s digital strategy. Collective action is vital, especially in light of the non-transparent and unclear process behind the Next Generation Internet (NGI) funding cuts. The deadline of the consultation is 20 September (midnight Brussels time). We already participated[3] and here are some key points to consider while submitting the consultation: * Software is integral to every aspect of our lives. It’s essential that this technology empowers, not restricts, by granting everyone the right to use, understand, adapt, and share software. * We urge the EU to prioritise Free Software, ensuring financial support for related projects and ecosystems. Sustainable, long-term funding will enhance independence, resilience, control, security, and sovereignty. * The Digital Europe Programme could only unfold its full potential if it is systematically focusing on the support of Free Software solutions. Free Software is crucial to avoiding future dependencies and lock-ins. By adopting a “Free Software first” approach, the EU can ensure taxpayer money is used efficiently, fostering collaboration and interoperability across Europe. If it’s public money, it should be public code. If you, in an individual capacity, or your organisation is willing to participate in the consultation and support the proposal for Free Software funding, please let us know via email [email protected] Best regards, Lina [1] https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240719-01.html [2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/ 13880-Digital-Europe-programme-interim-evaluation/public-consultation_en [3] https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240911-02.html -- Lina Ceballos - Policy Project Manager Free Software Foundation Europe Schönhauser Allee 6/7, 10119 Berlin, Germany | t +49-30-27595290 Registered at Amtsgericht Hamburg, VR 17030 | https://fsfe.org/support _______________________________________________ eu-foss-policy mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] ----------------------------------------- -- Promotion & Communication www: https://kde.org Mastodon: https://floss.social/@kde Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kde/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kde
