Symposium to be held on use of open source software in EU public administrations

To meet the growing interest in the use of Open Source Software (OSS) in EU public administrations, IDA is organising a symposium on OSS in Brussels (BE) on 22 February 2001. The event will provide a platform where EU administrations can share their experiences. It aims to promote a dialogue with the private sector on how OSS can help the public sector increase the benefits of information technologies. The Symposium is open to all and entrance is free of charge. The number of places available is limited, and prior registration is mandatory.

Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for enterprises and information society, will open the event. Representatives of administrations around Europe will provide examples of the use of open source software. And there will be a presentation on what open source software can offer to administrations as well as a series of discussions sessions on software requirements, cost benefits and procurement issues.

PROGRAMME
08:30-10:00    Registration and coffee    

10:00    Opening of the meeting and welcome to participants    
   Address by Mr E. Liikanen, Member of the European Commission.    
   Examples of the use of Open Source Software in European administrations
Mr Juan Jesús Muñoz, Ministry of Justice, Spain
Simon Gjedde, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Denmark
Peter Pfläging, Municipality of Vienna, Austria
Nicolas Pettiaux, Ministry of the Region of Brussels, Belgium
Hannu Sareema, European Environmental Agency    
   What can Open Source Software offer to administrations?
Jean-Pierre Laisné, Vice President of AFUL    

12:30    Break    

14:00    Discussion sessions
Software requirements – Are administrations different ?
Egon Troles, Ministry of the Interior, Germany
Cost/benefit considerations.
Frank Clarijs and Patrice-Emmanuel Schmitz, Unisys Belgium
Procurement issues.
Axel Metzger and Till Jaeger, ifrOSS, Germany    

17:30    End of symposium    

PRACTICAL DETAILS

Symposium venue
Centre Borschette
Room 0A
Rue Froissart, 36
B-1040 Brussels
Metro station: Schuman (line 1A/1B)