EU Commission opens call for evidence on European Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy
The European Commission has launched a public call for evidence to inform a forthcoming European Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty by addressing structural challenges facing open-source software and digital commons across the EU.
The European Commission has opened a call for evidence on its planned European Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy, inviting stakeholders to contribute to shaping how open-source technologies are supported and scaled within the European Union. The strategy is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2026 and will set out a long-term framework for strengthening Europe’s open-source ecosystem.
Open source is seen by the Commission as a critical component of European technological sovereignty. Although open-source software underpins an estimated 70 to 90 percent of all code used in the digital economy, much of the economic value generated by European developers flows outside the EU. At the same time, public administrations and companies across Europe remain heavily dependent on non-EU digital technologies, raising concerns around competitiveness, resilience, and cybersecurity.
The Commission plans to build on and review its previous open source software strategy for 2020–2023, while setting out a more comprehensive and strategic approach. According to the Commission, existing support mechanisms, including research funding, have not been sufficient to help open-source projects scale sustainably. Key barriers identified include limited access to growth capital and a lack of shared infrastructure.
The forthcoming strategy will complement other EU initiatives, including the upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act, and will build on programmes such as the Next Generation Internet initiative and the Digital Commons European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC).
Through the call for evidence, the Commission is seeking input from open-source communities, developers, companies, public authorities, industry actors, and research organisations. Contributors are asked to identify obstacles to open-source adoption, demonstrate the societal and economic value of open source, and suggest concrete measures that could be taken at EU level to strengthen the ecosystem.
The consultation is open until 3 February 2026. Feedback can be submitted via the European Commission’s Have Your Say platform.
