The Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) is a non-profit and (in some countries) charitable non-governmental organization dedicated toFree Software as in freedom.

Vision of Free Software

Access to software determines who may participate in a digital society. Therefore, the freedoms to use, copy, modify and redistribute software -- as described in the Free Software definition -- allow equal participation in the information age.

The vision of Free Software is one of a stable basis for freedom in a digital world -- both in an economic and socio-ethical context. Free Software is one important cornerstone for freedom, democracy, human rights and development in a digital society.

The FSFE is dedicated to supporting all aspects of Free Software in Europe. Creating awareness for these issues, securing Free Software politically and legally, and giving people freedom by supporting development of Free Software are central issues of the FSFE.

For these reasons, FSFE was founded in 2001 as the European sister organisation of the Free Software Foundation in Boston, MA, USA. Both are financially, legally and personally independent from each other as parts of the international Free Software Foundation network.