EU’s Reliance on Excel for Cybersecurity Law Consultation Sparks Criticism

The Document Foundation has criticized the European Commission for using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet as the sole format for feedback on the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act. This approach creates a “structural bias” in the consultation process, the foundation argues, as it requires participants to use a format tied to a single vendor’s ecosystem.

Why Open Standards Matter

The EU has long promoted open standards and digital sovereignty, encouraging public bodies to adopt open source software to reduce reliance on proprietary technology. However, by using Excel as the sole format for feedback, the Commission undermines its own message. The foundation suggests providing the template in an open format, such as the Open Document Format (.ods), alongside the proprietary one.

Additionally, the consultation process is supposed to be open to citizens, public bodies, and organizations across Europe, including those that have adopted open source software. By requiring participants to use a proprietary format, the Commission risks disadvantaging these organizations and undermining the credibility of its digital sovereignty and open standards initiatives.

A Simple Solution

The Document Foundation proposes a straightforward solution: release the template in both .xlsx and ODF formats, allowing participants to choose what works best for them. Alternatively, the Commission could supplement the template with a web-based form, making it more accessible to a wider range of stakeholders.

By adopting this approach, the Commission can ensure that its consultation process is truly open and inclusive, while also promoting the use of open standards and reducing reliance on proprietary technology.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the European Commission’s reliance on Excel for its cybersecurity law consultation is a step in the wrong direction. By promoting open standards and providing alternative formats, the Commission can ensure that its initiatives are truly inclusive and effective. We urge the Commission to take a more open and inclusive approach to its consultation processes, and to provide templates in both proprietary and open formats going forward.