France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands lead a new Europe-backed initiative to develop open source solutions in AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and social networks, aiming to reduce reliance on US tech giants.
The European Commission has approved the creation of a new EU-level organisation to drive open source software development and strengthen the bloc’s digital sovereignty. The initiative seeks to reduce Europe’s reliance on non-European technologies, particularly from US-based platforms.
Led by France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, the new body will develop open, European alternatives in critical domains including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity, and social networks.
Formally named the Digital Commons European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC), the group will design a sustainable financing mechanism to support the production and long-term maintenance of open source software across the continent.
Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Poland will join the initiative as observers, while other EU member states have expressed interest in participating later. The consortium is scheduled for official inauguration on 11 December in The Hague, following the submission of founding papers in July.
The decision marks a significant milestone for Europe’s open source community, which has consistently called for stronger EU-level support. Industry advocates had earlier proposed a €350 million fund to ensure the continuity of vital open source projects and the development of sustainable digital ecosystems.
Regional policymakers have framed the move as part of a broader effort to assert digital sovereignty, addressing geopolitical concerns over the bloc’s over-dependence on foreign technology providers. With EDIC, Europe positions open source software as the foundation of its sovereign digital future, combining transparency, collaboration, and community-driven innovation to build a resilient and independent technological infrastructure.
