FOSS and Digital Sovereignty: Capital Series ‘25

On October 23, the halls of the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) hosted a gathering that felt both timely and quietly urgent. The Capital Series Copenhagen, organized by OpenForum Europe, brought together a diverse group of policymakers and digital strategists to discuss one of Europe’s most complex challenges: how to secure our digital future in an increasingly unstable world.

A Shift in Consciousness

For years, the conversation around open source has focused on utility and cost. But to us sitting in that room, it became clear the tide had turned. Open source is no longer just a technical preference; it has become a strategic necessity.

There is a growing realization across Europe that convenience has come at a cost. What we once viewed as simple outsourcing has slowly evolved into vulnerability. When national infrastructures rely on opaque systems controlled from afar, public institutions face risks that go beyond mere IT issues.

The atmosphere at the event reflected this awakening. There was a shared sentiment that Europe’s digital future must be built on transparency, resilience, and independence: values that are intrinsic to the open source philosophy.

Democratic Co-Ownership

Lisbeth Bech-Nielsen, our host at the Parliament, captured the heart of the issue beautifully. She suggested that the global dominance of a few tech giants has created dependencies that are no longer sustainable for a sovereign region.

For her, open source is a path to democratic co-ownership. By adopting technologies that we can understand, modify, and improve together, nations and citizens regain agency over their digital environments. It shifts us from being passive consumers to active architects of our future.

The Call for Autonomy by Denmark’s Minister for Digitalisation, Caroline Stage Olsen, expanded on this concept during her keynote. She acknowledged that while Denmark has made great strides, Europe’s vulnerabilities are becoming visible. Noting the shifting political winds, she underscored how quickly the global landscape can change.

Her message was as simple as it was resonant: Europe cannot afford to outsource its resilience. Europe must maintain control over its digital foundations.

A Personal Return

On a personal note, returning to Copenhagen felt like coming home. Having lived here in the early 2000s, I have always admired the Danish blend of pragmatism and deep civic engagement. This event was a perfect reflection of that spirit. It reminded me that a relatively small society can lead on the global stage: not through size, but through clarity of purpose and a commitment to the public good.

Looking Ahead

For us at LPI, the Capital Series was more than a high-level policy discussion. It was a validation that our core values—collaboration, transparency, and education—are exactly what Europe needs right now.

The path ahead is substantial. Securing Europe’s digital autonomy will require support at every level, from government procurement to individual skills development. But as I left the Parliament, I felt optimistic. Events like this prove that the momentum is real, and the direction is clear.