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FSFE: EC caves in to proprietary lobbyists on interoperability
http://fsfe.org/news/2009/news-20091127-01.en.html
Text at bottom.
Of Estonia, Language, and Open Standards
,----[ Quote ]
| This kind of linguistic misunderstanding
| about the implications of openness wouldn't
| matter too much were it not for the fact
| that this particular Estonian is Siim
| Kallas, vice president of the European
| Commission: for someone so senior to have
| such a confused idea about what open
| standards involve, is potentially highly
| damaging for IT in Europe.
`----
http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=2658&blogid=14
__________
FSFE: EC caves in to proprietary lobbyists on interoperability
Free Software industry criticises remarks by Commission's Vice President Siim
Kallas
The European Commission (EC) has given in to the demands of lobbyists for
Microsoft and SAP when it revised a key document on interoperability between
electronic government services. The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) has
analysed the evolution of a new version of the European Interoperability
Framework (EIF), showing that Commission has based its work on the input of the
Business Software Alliance (BSA), a lobby group for proprietary software
vendors, and ignored the voices of a large part of the European software
industry. At the same time, remarks by the EC's Vice President about Free
Software point to a worrying lack of awareness within the Commission.
A draft for a revision of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) leaked
to the press earlier this month. Whereas the earlier version of the document
strongly supports the use of Free Software and Open Standards in the public
sector, the new text only carries a meaningless description of an "openness
continuum", which absurdly enough includes proprietary specifications.
FSFE has tracked how key parts of the revised European Interoperability
Framework have evolved over time. A version of the document was the basis of a
public consultation in the summer of 2008. FSFE's analysis shows in detail how
from this basis, the views of the BSA lobby group have influenced the present
draft of the text. At the same time, the European Commission has ignored
comments by companies, groups and individuals in favour of Open Standards and
Free Software.
"The European Commission must not make itself the tool of particular interests.
The current draft is unacceptable, and so is the total lack of transparency in
the process that has led to this text," says Karsten Gerloff, FSFE's President.
On this background, recent remarks by Siim Kallas, the European Commission's
Vice President in charge of administration, show a worrying lack of awareness of
Open Standards and Free Software in parts of the Commission. In a high-level
press conference (Flash) on November 19 in MalmÃ, Sweden, Kallas said that he
considered Free Software a problem for "business continuity". He likened Free
Software to a Wikipedia article, saying that "in Wikipedia text, you see that
there are brackets and footnotes, that information should be confirmed, or
should be checked [...], and if you use open source, if you use the same logic
in operational things, you must have certainty what will happen next."
FSFE is deeply concerned about these remarks. "Mr Kallas is badmouthing a whole
sector of the European IT economy", says Gerloff. "Either Mr Kallas is actively
hostile to Free Software and Open Standards, or he is entirely ignorant about
them. Both is simply not justifiable in a Vice President of the European
Commission in charge of the EC's administration."
Elmar Geese, Chair of Linux-Verband, a German association of Free Software
businesses with 80 members, shows himself surprised at Mr Kallas' remarks. "We
do not know who advised Mr Kallas to say these things. To me, this sounds like
the propaganda of fear, uncertainty and doubt from 10 years ago. We invite Mr
Kallas to inform himself about the Free Software industry. I am sure this will
change his mind."
Jan Wildeboer, Red Hat EMEA Evangelist, rejects Kallas' remarks. "Compared to
many proprietary alternatives, Free Software shows that it not only saves money
but also delivers high quality solutions. The use of Free Software in mission-
critical environments all over the world is proof of its quality."
Such statements from the EC give a boost to the critics of the new version of
the EIF. FSFE argues that the original EIF has served well as a guideline to the
European public sector. Even though it is only a recommendation, it has become
an important reference in Europe and beyond. If it needs to be revised, the new
document should improve interoperability through reliance on Open Standards,
rather than promote proprietary software and specifications. The Commission
should go back to the consultation document and work from there, making sure
that this time comments from all sides are properly addressed.
Red Hat's Wildeboer shares the criticism: "It is good to see that EIFv2 is under
more scrutiny now. We need a strong focus on interoperability based on Open
Standards. The leaked draft version shows how a lack of transparency can hurt
that goal. Now is the time to ask some serious questions. I fully trust the
Commission to reinstate the goals of EIFv1. Open Standards and Open
Specifications are key to interoperability."
FSFE's President Karsten Gerloff argues: "If the Member States of the European
Union want to preserve the credibility of European institutions, they should
reject the current draft of the EIF. Instead, they should help the Commission to
build a better one that puts Open Standards front and centre."
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any
medium, provided this notice is preserved.
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