Dries Buytaert Urges Europe to Fund Open Source Maintainers for Digital Sovereignty

Dries warns that relying on foreign software providers leaves Europe vulnerable to geopolitical shocks, as illustrated by the International Criminal Court abandoning Microsoft 365 over an access dispute, and several European institutions shifting to alternatives like LibreOffice. He contends that Open Source offers the only credible route to digital sovereignty, as it allows governments to control, audit, and adapt their own software infrastructure without external interference.

However, he highlights a systemic flaw in public procurement: funds rarely reach the developers who write and maintain the software. Instead, large integrators win contracts by packaging open-source tools, tools built by smaller contributors who remain uncompensated. “Public money flows around Open Source instead of into it,” he writes.

To correct this, Buytaert proposes integrating contribution-based scoring into procurement processes. By asking vendors to show what they contribute—whether code, security patches, or funding—governments can reward those strengthening the software ecosystem, not just those repackaging it.

As an example, he cites the Drupal credit system, which ranks service providers by their verified contributions. It offers transparency for procurement officers, making it easier to distinguish genuine contributors from those who merely resell. “If a vendor isn’t on that list,” he states, “they’re likely not contributing in any meaningful way.”

Momentum for reform is growing. The association APELL has proposed using contribution as a procurement criterion. EuroStack, representing over 260 European Open Source firms, advocates for a "Buy Open Source Act." The European Commission itself has acknowledged the issue in its Open Source roadmap.

Dries submitted this perspective as part of the European Commission’s consultation on open digital ecosystems, which is open for feedback until 3 February 2026. He encourages others in the Open Source community to contribute their views before the deadline.