European Parliament wants EU institutions to switch to open source

The European Parliament calls upon the Commission for the systematic replacement of proprietary software by auditable and verifiable open-source software in all the EU institutions, and for the introduction of a mandatory open-source-selection criterion in all future ICT procurement procedures.

The Parliament strongly reiterates its call for the development, within the framework of new initiatives such as the Digital Single Market, of a European strategy for greater IT independence.

Edward Snowden

The call for a migration to open-source software is part of the very same ‘Resolution on the follow-up to the European Parliament resolution of 12 March 2014 on the electronic mass surveillance of EU citizens’ that was amended with a call on the Member States to drop any criminal charges against Edward Snowden. The Members should grant him protection and consequently prevent extradition or rendition by third parties, in recognition of his status as whistleblower and international human rights defender.

The resolution was accepted last week by the Parliament in a 342 to 274 vote. The paragraph on Snowden was accepted in a 285 to 281 vote.