-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: Support needed for Free Software in EU Consultation
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 13:21:53 +0200
From: Bonnie Mehring <bonnie(a)fsfe.org>
Hej
The European Commission has recently cut the funding for the Next
Generation Internet (NGI), which supports Free Software projects, by €27
million [1]. This underscores the fragility and precarious nature of
funding for Free Software and the need for sustainable support has
become more evident than ever. We encourage you, as hackerspace, to join
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 are willing to participate in the consultation and support the
proposal for Free Software funding, please let us know via email
contact(a)fsfe.org
Best Regards,
Bonnie
[1] https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240719-01.html
[2]
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/1…
[3] https://fsfe.org/news/2024/news-20240911-02.html
--
Bonnie Mehring - Project manager -
Free Software Foundation Europe
Schönhauser Allee 6/7, 10119 Berlin, Germany | t +49-30-27595290
Registered at Amtsgericht Hamburg, VR 17030 |(fsfe.org/support)
It’s two months until the next fall RIPE meeting - and this means it’s
time again for a Working Group Chair Selection.
To avoid the issues from the last meeting, we would like to clarify on
how we want to do the selection this time and the requirements,
selection process etc. There is some progress by RIPE to define a new
common process for all the working groups, however, this is not ready
yet and we thus announce the following:
Our working group has currently 3 chairs:
- Martin Winter (Since Start of WG, RIPE 66)
- Marcos Sanz (Since RIPE 84)
- Sasha Romjin (Since RIPE 88)
Martin Winter is currently considering stepping down as a WG chair to
make space for somebody new with fresh ideas. However, this will
depend on getting candidates as well. Martin will decide after the new
candidates are known, if he will either withdraw from further terms or
stand as a candidate for re-election against the new candidates.
Criteria/Expectations of a WG chair:
- You have attended multiple physical RIPE meetings before (and are
familiar with how RIPE works)
- You will be attending most RIPE meetings while serving as a chair in person
- You will attend this Fall meeting session (Physical or Virtual)
For more details, see the Guide for New RIPE Working Group Chairs
(https://www.ripe.net/publications/docs/ripe-765/) or the RIPE Working
Group Chair e-learning course
(https://academy.ripe.net/course/info.php?id=16).
If you are interested to serve as a WG chair:
Nomination period is until Sept 27, 2024, 23:59 UTC. Send an email to
opensource-wg-chairs(a)ripe.net to make us aware of your candidacy
before this deadline. In the email, please include a short bio and
statement why you are interested.
On Sep 28, we will then send an email with all candidates, their
submitted bio and a summary of previous RIPE attendance of each
candidate to the list and open a discussion for feedback, statement of
support for specific candidates and any other feedback in regards to
them.
In parallel, the working group chairs will run interviews and
discussions with all the candidates and we require the candidates to
make time for these calls and get back to us in a timely manner to
email requests during this month. The time is short and we need to be
prepared before the meeting!
Please be aware, these are not elections, but selections. The ultimate
decision is by the remaining WG chairs as all the chairs need to work
together.
Martin, Marcos & Sasha (the current WG chairs)
