Open formats win: EU Commission reacts to LibreOffice criticism
The European Commission has responded to criticism from the Document Foundation regarding the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) guidelines by releasing feedback templates in open document formats. This move signifies a growing emphasis within the EU on adopting open standards for official documentation and public consultations, fostering greater accessibility and interoperability. It aligns with the broader digital policy push towards reducing reliance on proprietary software ecosystems. Specifically, the Commission has now made the feedback template for the CRA guidelines available not only in PDF but also as an ODS (OpenDocument Spreadsheet) file. This addresses concerns that the initial format might have presented barriers for users of alternative office suites like LibreOffice, promoting a more inclusive consultation process. The inclusion of open formats supports the EU's goal of digital sovereignty and fair competition within the digital market. This development directly impacts software providers and users who advocate for open-source solutions, encouraging wider participation in policy shaping. By embracing open formats, the EU signals its commitment to a more diverse and competitive digital landscape, potentially leveling the playing field against dominant proprietary software vendors and reinforcing the importance of open standards in governmental processes.
Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.
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