The new EU Open Source Strategy – Europe’s path to digital sovereignty through open technologies

Against this backdrop, on 3 June 2026 the European Commission presented a standalone EU Open Source Strategy as part of the ‘EU Technological Sovereignty Package’. This is embedded within the overarching communication on European technological sovereignty and is accompanied by further legislative initiatives. Open source is thus, for the first time, positioned at a strategic level as a key instrument for strengthening European technological independence.

What are the key elements of the strategy?

The EU Open Source Strategy adopts a holistic lifecycle approach covering the entire value chain – from research and development through to market launch and deployment, right through to the long-term maintenance and governance of critical open-source components.

The strategy is structured around four key objectives:

• Open Source for technological sovereignty: The Commission aims to specifically promote the use of European open-source solutions in strategically relevant areas. A key element is the expansion of the 'Open Internet Stack', a funding programme to promote the development of software solutions to reduce vendor lock‑in and enhance interoperability by promoting open standards and Open Source methodologies. Furthermore, open alternatives to proprietary solutions, particularly in the areas of cloud and workplace applications, are to be promoted in collaboration with the Member States. Funding is to be channelled primarily into key technologies such as semiconductors, operating systems, cloud, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
• A vibrant open-source ecosystem: The Commission plans to provide targeted support for start-ups through accelerator programmes, legal assistance with licensing issues and improved access to public procurement procedures. To safeguard the open-source supply chain, an open-source maintenance tool, the systematic mapping of critical dependencies and the development of appropriate mirroring capacities are planned. 
• Open source in public administration: Updated procurement guidelines are intended to ensure open standards and a fair evaluation of open-source bids in tendering procedures. Common minimum cybersecurity requirements are to be established for the Commission’s repositories, and openness is to be incorporated as a consistent design principle in digital investment decisions.
• Enhanced standardisation and international reach: European open-source solutions are to be promoted internationally via the ‘EU Tech Business Offer’ and disseminated in partner countries. The Commission also intends to involve open-source communities more closely in standardisation processes, including through the revision of the EU Standardisation Regulation.

What is new about the strategy?

The EU Open Source Strategy marks a paradigm shift in several respects:

1. For the first time, open source is being enshrined at the highest political level not merely as a technical tool, but as a strategic instrument of sovereignty. Its inclusion in the “European Technological Sovereignty Package”, alongside legislative proposals such as the “Cloud and AI Development Act” and the “Chips Act 2.0”, underlines this growing importance. 
2. The strategy pursues a life-cycle approach that is unprecedented to date: whilst earlier initiatives – such as the “Next Generation Internet Initiative” or the “SIMPL Programme” – each addressed individual aspects, the new strategy aims to cover the entire chain from research to long-term maintenance and governance. 
3. Noteworthy is the explicit link between open source and public procurement. The planned procurement guidelines and the integration of openness as a guiding principle in investment decisions could fundamentally change market conditions for open-source providers in Europe. Further provisions on embedding open source in the public procurement process can be found in the “Cloud and AI Development Act”.
4. The creation of an Open Source Maintenance Instrument represents a novel approach designed to address the chronic underfunding of maintenance for critical open-source components and the associated risks. 
5. Finally, the systematic integration of open-source communities into standardisation processes is a new approach that seeks to resolve the traditional tension between open development models and formal standardisation.

Relevance for companies in the IT sector

For companies in the IT sector, the strategy presents both opportunities and a need for action. Providers of open-source solutions are likely to benefit directly from the planned procurement guidelines and the fair evaluation of open-source bids in public procurement procedures. The opening up of the public sector as a key customer could create new market access, particularly for European start-ups and SMEs. At the same time, companies that sell proprietary solutions to public contracting authorities should closely monitor the emerging shift in preference towards open technologies.

The mapping of critical dependencies and the development of mirroring capabilities suggest that the Commission intends to systematically strengthen the resilience of the open-source supply chain – with potential implications for the entire software value chain.

Last but not least, the international dimension of the strategy – in particular the promotion of European open-source solutions in partner countries via the ‘EU Tech Business Offer’ – opens up additional export opportunities for European technology companies. 

Companies in the IT sector are advised to closely monitor the further development of the strategy – in particular the announced procurement guidelines, the Open Source Maintenance Instrument and the revision of the EU Standardisation Regulation – and to align their business models, licensing strategies and compliance structures with the changing regulatory framework at an early stage.