EU policy/Funding/2019

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Transparent Policy Work

In line with our movement's values, Wikimedia is committed to full transparency when it comes to our public policy activities. The money we spend on our EU advocacy efforts is sourced from our European chapters. This page provides information about the current year's budget, plans and how we intend to make sure that money is well spent. For historical funding overviews, please take a look at 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018

Annual Priorities Plan 2019

I. Public Policy Goals

The legislative work in 2019 will be dominated by the reforms that are already in the pipeline. These will be rushed until the parliamentary elections in May. We thus expect intensive policy work in the first four months of the year and very little progress after, at least on these dossiers:

Copyright Reform: Keep carve-outs for non-for-profits and public domain safeguard.
PSI Directive: Ensure an “open definition” in EU legislation.
Terrorist Content Regulation: Block compulsory content deletion harmful to free knowledge.

II. Strategic Goals

The European Parliament elections, the fact that EU copyright reform will likely move to the national level and our strategic direction result in newly defined goals for 2019 (cp. 2018):

Collaborations: “Wikimedia is at the heart of national free knowledge policy work.” The campaign around the two parliamentary votes on the EU copyright reform strengthened already existing and fostered new ties between national Wikimedia groups and digital rights organisations. Especially in countries where we don’t have the capacity to ensure a stand-alone public policy presence, such collaboration might ensure a more sustainable presence. The fact that the copyright reform will move to national transposition is an opportunity to deepen these relations. This also resonates well with the Movement Strategy.

Changing Majorities: “Positioning of politicians with an interest in free knowledge.” From our work with the current parliament we learned that many politicians will naturally be interested and inclined to support us, but this is of little use if they are sitting in committees irrelevant for free knowledge policies. The European Parliament elections in 2019 are an opportunity to change this. We will work ahead of the elections to interest potential politicians in free knowledge topics and after the elections on motivating them to join relevant committees.

Sustainability: “Free knowledge advocates are not seen as Big Tech puppets.” Wikimedia wants to be at the heart of a free knowledge ecosystem. This movement experienced a significant loss on copyright in 2018. One of the main reasons is that parts of it are seen as Google funded and somehow, albeit indirectly defending the interests of “Big Tech”. To be able to have a strong and independent voice in the future it is crucial to change this perception. We will dedicate time and efforts in 2019 to devise a new free & open narrative that is distinct from “Big Tech” and to unlock new funding opportunities for digital rights groups. We feel that ensuring the voice of free & open communities is being heard and respected is part of the necessary infrastructure for free knowledge

Proposed Budget 2019

Non-WMDE Budget Contributions 2019 (in €)

WMAT - 6000
WMCH - 8826.24
WMFR - 8000
WMIT - 5000
WMNL - 8000
WMNO - 3240
WMUK - 3000
WMCZ - 800
WMPL - ???
WMSE - 4000
Amical - 600
carry over from 2017 budget - 649.46

Confirmed without UK, PL and Amical - €47 964,71

NB All Wikimedia chapters and thematic oragnisatons are contributing only own funds sourced in Europe, such as membership fees and local donations.

Indicators 2019

Wikimedia has ensured that content released under the Public Sector Information Directive is reusable (compatible with CC-BY-SA standards).
Wikimedia is working on the national transposition of the Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive in at least 15 Member States. This includes: drafting national legislation proposals, contancting national policy makers and setting up national coalitions.
Wikimedia has spoken to at least 5 European foundations about funding free knowledge & digital rights policy work and has convinced at least one of them to do so.
Wikimedia is collaborating (e.g. joint events, position papers, sharing of resources) with different stakeholder groups. In order to ensure we are well integrated in the entire debate, but keep our independence, we are aiming at working with the technology sector (i.e. members of EDiMA, CCIA, EuroISPA), civil society (i.e. EDRi, BEUC Communia, AccessNow), science & education (i.e. IFLA, EBLIDA, LIBER, Science Europe) and authors (Where we will make an effort to establish lasting relationships with various collecting societies).
Wikimedia has been in touch with at least 50 potential MEPs ahead of the European Parliament elections in May and has encouraged them to work with us on free knwoledge issues over the next five years.