Summary As proposed in the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), the EU Open Source Solutions Catalogue (EU OSS Catalogue) would be hosted directly on the Interoperable Europe portal. This hosting requirement is explicitly mandated by Article 43(2) of the proposal, which states the catalogue "shall be hosted on the Interoperable Europe portal referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2024/903 and shall be accessible electronically free of charge." By anchoring the catalogue to this existing infrastructure, CADA ensures alignment with the Interoperable Europe Act, specifically delivering on Article 4 of that Act, which mandates the sharing and reuse of interoperability solutions between Union entities and public sector bodies.

Detail

The proposed Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) introduces a targeted framework to reduce vendor lock-in and foster a competitive, open market for cloud and AI technologies within the European public sector. A cornerstone of this strategy is the creation of a centralized, accessible repository for software developed by or for public administrations.

The Hosting Mandate: Article 43(2)

Article 43 of the CADA proposal establishes the EU Open Source Solutions Catalogue (β€˜EU OSS Catalogue’). While Article 43(1) defines its purpose as a centralised catalogue to access software made available for reuse, Article 43(2) provides the critical technical and operational specification for its deployment:

"The EU OSS Catalogue shall be hosted on the Interoperable Europe portal referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2024/903 and shall be accessible electronically free of charge."

This provision creates a direct legal link between CADA and the Interoperable Europe Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/903). The Interoperable Europe portal, established under Article 8 of that Regulation, serves as the primary digital gateway for discovering interoperability solutions across the EU. By mandating that the EU OSS Catalogue reside on this specific portal, the CADA avoids the creation of a fragmented, siloed platform. Instead, it integrates open-source software discovery into the broader, established EU digital interoperability ecosystem.

The requirement that the catalogue be "accessible electronically free of charge" is a deliberate policy choice to remove financial barriers. This ensures that public administrators, developers, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can search for and access reusable code without incurring listing fees or subscription costs, thereby democratizing access to public-sector digital assets.

Strategic Alignment with the Interoperable Europe Act

The decision to host the catalogue on the Interoperable Europe portal is not merely a logistical convenience; it is a strategic alignment with the EU's broader digital sovereignty and efficiency goals. The Interoperable Europe Act establishes a legal framework for cross-border digital public services. Specifically, Article 4 of that Act mandates the sharing and reuse of interoperability solutions between Union entities and public sector bodies.

The CADA leverages this existing mandate. Recital 83 of the CADA explanatory memorandum explicitly connects the two instruments, noting that software developed by public bodies is often scattered across disparate repositories, "hampering searchability, discoverability and, ultimately, reuse." By requiring that software made available for reuse be listed in a catalogue connected to the EU OSS Catalogue, CADA operationalizes the sharing mandate of the Interoperable Europe Act.

Furthermore, Recital 83 highlights the added value of this integration: hosting the catalogue on the Interoperable Europe portal "will ensure that solutions can be easily linked to further relevant information and training." This connectivity is vital for technical architects and CTOs. It ensures that a developer finding a reusable software component can immediately access associated documentation, security certifications, and interoperability standards, rather than navigating disconnected systems.

The Commission's Role and Federated Access

While the catalogue is hosted centrally, the CADA envisions a federated ecosystem. Article 43(3) empowers the Commission to manage connections to external repositories. It states:

"The Commission shall, on the basis of objective and relevant criteria, decide on the request of any Union entity or public sector body owning or maintaining a catalogue or repository to have that catalogue or repository connected to and made accessible through the EU OSS Catalogue."

This structure allows national or regional open-source repositories to feed into the central EU catalogue, provided they meet the Commission's criteria. This approach respects existing national infrastructure investments while ensuring a consistent user experience and data quality across the Union. It prevents the duplication of effort and ensures that a solution developed in one Member State can be easily discovered and reused by another.

What this means for you

For CTOs, software architects, public procurement officers, and SMEs supplying the European public sector, the hosting of the EU OSS Catalogue on the Interoperable Europe portal has significant practical implications.

1. Standardized Discovery and Interoperability

If your organization develops open-source software intended for public sector reuse, you must consider how your repository integrates with the EU OSS Catalogue. Under Article 42, Union entities and public sector bodies that voluntarily decide to make software available for reuse under an open-source licence must do so via a catalogue connected to the EU OSS Catalogue.

By leveraging the Interoperable Europe portal, your software benefits from a standardized metadata framework. This means interoperability characteristics, security postures, and licensing details will be presented in a format immediately understandable to public procurement officers across the EU. This reduces the friction often associated with demonstrating compliance with interoperability standards during procurement processes.

2. Reduced Vendor Lock-in and Increased Visibility

For SMEs, the free and electronic accessibility of the catalogue lowers the barrier to market entry. You do not need to pay for listing fees. More importantly, being part of the Interoperable Europe ecosystem signals that your solution is aligned with EU digital standards. This can be a significant competitive advantage when bidding for public contracts that prioritize European technological sovereignty and open standards, as outlined in Article 41 (promoting open source solutions).

3. Alignment with "Open Source First" Principles

The CADA promotes an "open source first" approach for the public sector. Article 41 requires Union entities and public sector bodies to encourage the use of open standards and components released under open-source licences. As an architect, you should anticipate that public sector clients will increasingly source their foundational software stacks from the EU OSS Catalogue. Ensuring your solutions are compatible with the solutions listed there, or contributing your own validated solutions to the catalogue, positions you favorably in the supply chain.

4. Integration with Existing National Repositories

If your organization maintains a national or regional open-source repository, you should prepare to potentially connect it to the EU OSS Catalogue. The Commission will define the "objective and relevant criteria" for this connection under Article 43(3). Early engagement with these criteria will ensure that your existing infrastructure can seamlessly feed into the EU-wide system, avoiding the need for costly rebuilds later.

Common misconceptions

Misconception 1: The EU OSS Catalogue is a new, standalone website. Correction: No. As per Article 43(2), it is hosted on the existing Interoperable Europe portal. It is an integrated component of the broader Interoperable Europe Act infrastructure, not a separate siloed platform.

Misconception 2: All open-source software must be listed in the EU OSS Catalogue. Correction: The CADA does not mandate that all open-source software be listed. Article 42 applies specifically to software that Union entities or public sector bodies voluntarily decide to make available for reuse under an open-source licence. If they choose to share it, they must do so via a catalogue connected to the EU OSS Catalogue. Private sector developers are not directly compelled to list their software, though doing so may aid in public procurement visibility.

Misconception 3: The Interoperable Europe portal is only for technical standards. Correction: While the Interoperable Europe Act focuses on interoperability solutions, Article 4 of that Act mandates the sharing and reuse of these solutions. The CADA leverages this by treating open-source software as a key interoperability asset. Therefore, the portal hosts both technical standards and reusable software components, creating a holistic resource for digital public infrastructure.

Misconception 4: Listing in the catalogue guarantees procurement. Correction: The catalogue is a discovery and transparency tool. While it aligns with the "open source first" principle (Article 41), procurement decisions still depend on technical merit, security assessments, and specific project requirements. However, being listed demonstrates compliance with EU reuse mandates and can simplify the due diligence process for public buyers.

Related

This is general information about a draft EU regulation, not legal advice.