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EU Studies Linux Migration

Posted by michael on from the reverse-assimilation dept.

LeftOfCentre writes "The Register reports that the European Commision, the executive arm of the 380 million population European Union, has decided to spend 250,000 Euros on studying how government computers in EU states could be migrated to Linux and open source."

4 of 339 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Taxes by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 3, Informative

    ``Is a migration to Linux going to mean lower cost of government operation and lower taxes?''
    Hehe. I don't think switching to open source solutions will have that great an impact on government expenses. Software costs will drop, but the hardware costs will remain, as will the costs for maintenance. And with all the subsidies and financial aid still in place...

    Besides, AFAIK, the expenses of the European governements aren't paid for by the citizens, but rather by the state governments. The decision to alter taxes would, then depend on those, and I don't think they will be inclined to lower taxes. They can better use the money by stimulating the not-so-shiny economy...or save up for the upcoming expansion of the EU with several poorer countries.

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    The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it.
    -- Abbie Hoffman

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    Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
  2. Re:Taxes by blancolioni · · Score: 5, Informative

    I know most European nations are generally socialist at their core and tax their citizens quite heavily.

    I pay about the same amount of tax here as I did when I lived in the US. The difference is that in the EU, the money goes to social policies; while in the US it goes on the military.

  3. Re:Fasibility Study Only - As yet.... by plugger · · Score: 5, Informative

    Police in the UK are also piloting a Linux desktop system. Reported here.

  4. Re:This is the EU not the US... by Vlad_the_Inhaler · · Score: 3, Informative
    Ciccolena was elected. Under proportional representation with (at a guess) 500 seats in the parliament, this would require around 0.2% of the electorate voting for her.

    0.2% is about as much influence as she had in parliament - it was good as a publicity stunt but not much else.

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    Mielipiteet omiani - Opinions personal, facts suspect.