Denmark’s Ministry for Digital Affairs are pilot testing an integrated version of Libre Office in their Electronic Case Management System, F2 since June. The initiative, led by Digitalisation Minister Caroline Stage Olsen, is not just about cutting costs. It is a strategic effort to reduce dependence on foreign tech providers and reinforce government control over public digital infrastructure. 

According to the ministry, at the moment there are already around 30-40 staff testing LibreOffice. They have indicated that if any critical challenges arise, they may temporarily revert to Microsoft products to ensure smooth operations. Minister Olsen emphasised that while Denmark remains open to international collaboration, the goal is greater autonomy and resilience in uncertain geopolitical times.

One of the key motivators was the recent email outage that affected the International Criminal Court, which underscored the vulnerabilities of relying on a single foreign supplier for mission-critical systems. Additionally, long-standing political sensitivities in the region, including U.S. tech influence in Greenland, have added urgency to the debate around digital independence.

Denmark is not alone in this transition. Other countries, including Germany and France, have explored similar strategies. This may well be the most promising open source software shift by national governments in recent years.

Moreover, Denmark’s largest municipalities, including Copenhagen and Aarhus, are reportedly watching closely and may pursue similar approaches depending on the outcome of the national ministry's efforts. Success at the central level could pave the way for wider public-sector adoption throughout the country.

Still, the road won’t be without challenges. Migrating away from Microsoft’s entrenched ecosystem will require significant retraining, adaptation of workflows, and resolving compatibility issues with legacy systems. It’s a bet on long-term value, namely more transparency, better control, and a growing community of public institutions investing in and benefiting from open digital infrastructure.

As Europe continues to re-evaluate its digital dependencies, Denmark’s bold step might set a precedent, not just for governments, but for how digital ecosystems are governed in the public interest.