In a speech at OpenForum Europe, EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes reiterates the policy adopted last year to procure IT products that support open, well-documented standards, stating that the policy “needs to be implemented with vigour.” She cites the experiences of several public bodies that have already done so, including the Dutch government and Parliament, the German Foreign Ministry, the French Gendarmerie, and the City of Munich, whose Lord Mayor Christian Ude explained how open standards, including ODF, strengthened competition and opened up opportunities for small and mid-sized companies.

We’ve been saying for some time that no citizen should be forced to use a particular brand of software to access government information. It’s sound policy, consistent with democratic principles, and, for governments as purchasers, a smart business decision indeed.