The Free Software Pact

The Free Software Pact is now truly European! The Pact enters the Parliament in diversity, thanks to 34 elected signatories from 7 member states and belonging to 6 different political groups. Beyond the campaign, associations April, Associazione per il Software Libero, Hispalinux and all other EU Free Software advocacy groups will keep in touch with MEP's. They will collect more signatures for the Pact and continue to collaborate with them for the promotion and defense of Free Software.

The Free Software Pact campaign took place through the FreeSoftwarePact.eu initiative and related initiatives Candidats.fr^[1], Candidats.be^[2] and CaroCandidato.it^[3]. It got 232 candidates from 10 EU countries to sign the Pact^[4], and 34 elected signatories (from France, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece and the Netherlands) will seat in the European Parliament during the 2009-2014 legislature among six political groups (ALDE, PES, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL, EPP, Ind/Dem)^[5].

Associations April, Associazione per il Software Libero and Hispalinux first wish to thank all volunteers who got involved to have the Pact translated into 11 languages^[6] and signed by the candidates. They also thank all signatories for their support and congratulate elected signatories.

MEPs who have signed the Pact will be contacted by Free Software advocacy associations in Europe in order to deal with the main upcoming cases (EUCD revision, Telecoms Package, patents...). Moreover, the Free Software Pact will be proposed to all other MEPs these associations may meet.

"The Free Software Pact enables to implement lasting interactions with MEPs. It is all the more important that MEPs will have to deal with tricky cases such as the EUCD revision, patents and consumer protection. MEPs should get advice from advocacy groups along with multinational firms" association April's public affairs manager, Alix Cazenave, explains.