European Commission Opens Consultation on Open Digital Ecosystems Ahead of Q1 2026 Communication

Overview

• The call for evidence opened on January 6 and runs until February 3, with submissions informing a Commission Communication due in the first quarter of 2026.
• The Commission characterizes open source as foundational, estimating that 70–90% of software in digital systems relies on open‑source components used across public services, enterprises and critical infrastructure.
• The document links dependence on technologies developed outside the EU to reduced control over digital infrastructure and oversight of software supply chains.
• Identified obstacles include public procurement constraints, limited access to investment, insufficient scalable hosting and maintenance burdens concentrated on small teams, with economic value often realized outside the EU.
• The consultation covers internet technologies, cloud and edge computing, AI, cybersecurity tools, open hardware, industrial software and connected devices, and invites proposals on governance, funding, adoption and supply‑chain security practices.