EU: Keep funding free software under Horizon programme

ARTICLE 19 joins over 100 organisations and individuals in sending an open letter urging the European Commission to continue funding Next Generation Internet programmes. This free software programme is key to supporting a sovereign European internet infrastructure and to promoting a diverse, human-centred internet ecosystem.

A leaked draft of the European Commission's (EC) Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2025 does not include Next Generation Internet (NGI) programmes as part of its 'cluster 4'.

Traditionally 'cluster 4' is where NGI programmes are included. As per the EC's website, the mission of the Next Generation Internet initiative 'is to reimagine and re-engineer the internet of tomorrow, reflecting fundamental human values' and 'to put in place the key technological building blocks of tomorrow's internet and to shape the future internet as an interoperable platform ecosystem that embodies the values that Europe holds dear: openness, inclusivity, transparency, privacy, cooperation, and protection of data. The goal is to empower users with the freedom of choice among a range of open-source decentralised digital solutions.' The NGI programmes are key to building an internet ecosystem that better empowers users to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and privacy online.

ARTICLE 19 and other signatories strongly urge the EC to continue this important funding initiative, which, in the previous cluster 4, allocated EUR 27 million to:

• 'Human-centric internet aligned with values and principles commonly shared in Europe';
• 'A flourishing internet, based on common building blocks created within NGI, that enables better control of our digital life'; and
• 'A structured ecosystem of talented contributors driving the creation of new internet commons and the evolution of existing internet commons'.

Read the full letter