Europe is getting on the Open Standards bandwagon. Since we last blogged on this subject more than two years ago, much progress is to be reported. First and foremost, the UK government recently published a Government Action Plan on Open Source, Open Standards and Re-use. It created a separate website which contains links to blog posts, news stories and tweets about UK government, open source and open standards. This development attracted much comment in the British press. The Dutch also have progressed. In addition to the action plan published last year, the Dutch government has created a separate government body that advises the public sector about the best way to implement open source and open standards. Recently the Dutch Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis published a report on competition, innovation and intellectual property rights in software markets. This study analyzes how best to stimulate open source software. In response to this report the Secretary of State of Economic Affairs announced that the national government's web site, to be launched this autumn, will be based on open source software. Similar developments are taking place in Poland. Last but not least, the European Commission takes a clear interest in promoting open source software and open standards. In a speech of at a seminar in June last year, Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes stated, “ I know a smart business decision when I see one – choosing open standards is a very smart business decision indeed.” Google remains convinced that openness is the key to innovation, and innovation is the key to future growth and development of the European Union. So it is from this perspective that Google supports all initiatives of national governments throughout Europe to support the use of open source software and open standards.Posted by Machiel Bolhuis, European Policy Manager
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