France’s interministerial digital directorate, DINUM, has ordered government ministries to assess their reliance on outside EU technology and create exit strategies by fall 2026. The directive highlights replacing Windows with Linux-based workstations as a priority, along with a broader push toward open-source alternatives.
David Amiel, Minister of Public Action and Accounts, said: “The State can no longer simply acknowledge its dependence; it must break free. We need to reduce reliance on American tools and take back control of our digital future.”
What the DINUM Directive Requires
Ministries have until fall 2026 to submit dependency maps and transition plans related to their use of technology from outside Europe. This includes software and services from beyond the EU, with the United States specifically mentioned as a key focus for reduction in the directive.
DINUM highlights the migration from Windows to Linux as a major element of the directive. A date for the actual migration has not yet been set. The directive also covers other technology categories where there are dependencies on non-EU providers.
EU Open-Source Alternatives to Windows and Office
Organizations that need to use software originating from the EU have options. The openSUSE Linux distribution and the LibreOffice productivity suite both come from within the EU and could serve as alternatives to Windows and Microsoft Office, respectively. DINUM has not released a specific list of approved replacements.
The directive does not prohibit the use of open-source software based solely on the geographic origin of the project, which means Linux distributions developed outside the EU may still be considered compliant depending on how DINUM interprets the sovereignty requirements.
France has not provided a timeline for completing the transition beyond the fall 2026 deadline for submitting ministry plans.
