Free Software Foundation Europe

The Free Software Foundation Europe or FSFE was founded on March 10, 2001 as an independent sister organization of the Free Software Foundation of the United States of America. He works on all aspects related to free software in Europe, especially the GNU Project. The FSFE actively supports the development of free software and the progress of GNU-based systems, such as GNU/Linux. It is also a competent information center for politicians, lawyers and journalists, in order to guarantee the legal, political and social future of free software.

FSFE believes that access to and control of software determines who can participate in a digital society. Therefore, the freedoms to use, copy, modify, and redistribute software, as described in The Free Software Definition, are necessary for equal participation in the Information Age.

Objectives

The focus of the work of the FSFE is political, legal and social, with the objective of promoting Free Software and the ethical, philosophical, social, political and commercial values that it implements. In particular,

• actively promotes Free Software politically as a center of competition based in Europe, in dialogue with politicians and media.
• it monitors and seeks to influence legal and political activities that are contrary to the objectives and values of Free Software.
• provides a point of contact and guidance on all issues related to Free Software.
• works closely with active lawyers in the field of Free Software in Universities and practices to follow and influence legal discourse. It also cooperates with lawyers throughout Europe to increase the legal security of Free Software.
• supports, coordinates and develops projects in the field of Free Software, especially the GNU Project. It also provides computer resources to Free Software developers to enable them to continue their developments.
• helps companies develop business models based on Free Software, or adapt existing models; encourages companies in their evolution towards Free Software. To facilitate success for Free Software-based companies, FSF Europe also seeks to expand the Free Software market.
• help coordinate and connect other initiatives in the field of Free Software.

Structure

Of the "conception of ourselves" from FSFE: "The people of the Free Software Foundation of Europe (FSFE) see ourselves as Europeans of different cultures with the common purpose of intercultural cooperation and development of a common culture of cooperation from the regional to the global level. We form a network and a non-governmental, non-profit organization that in turn is part of a global network of people with common purpose and vision. We do not represent nobody except ourselves and our work. Our work and dedication to freedom in all aspects of the digital society is what defines us."

Internally, the FSFE has a consensus-oriented team structure, where participation is determined by each person's desire to participate and get work done. A democratic and representative model works as a substitute when consensus is not reached or if a quick decision is required.

Legal Structure

The FSFE has a modular structure with a central organization and the possibility of local legal bodies, called "Chapters". The central entity is a non-profit association ("e.V.") which is registered in Germany for circumstantial reasons.

In addition to being in regular contact with the other FSFs (FSF, FSFI, FSFLA), the FSFE has a structure of officially associated organizations. These are mainly national Free Software groups.

People

FSFE's President is Karsten Gerloff and its Vice President is Fernanda G. Weiden. The Founding President is Georg C. F. Greve. FSFE is made up of several country teams coordinated by the FSFE Core Team. In Spain, the coordinator is Pablo Machón.

Acknowledgments

In 2010 FSFE received the Theodor Heuss Medal in recognition of its work for freedom in the information society. The medal is awarded annually in Stuttgart by an organization named after the first president of West Germany.