Business & Technology
Euro-Office launches as Europe’s open-source Office rival
IONOS and Nextcloud have launched Euro-Office, a European open-source office suite backed by a coalition of more than a dozen organisations across Europe.
The software is positioned as a sovereign alternative to Microsoft Office for editing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. A public tech preview is available now, with the first stable release planned for summer.
Euro-Office is being developed under a shared governance framework that brings together commercial open-source companies, independent developers and civil society groups. Participants include IONOS, Nextcloud, EuroStack, XWiki, OpenProject, Soverin, Abilian, OpenXchange and bTactic.
The initiative comes as European organisations reassess their dependence on non-European workplace software. It also follows the closure of ONLYOFFICE’s cloud offering, which has prompted some users to reconsider their current office software arrangements.
Euro-Office is built on ONLYOFFICE. The coalition says it is opening the code base under open-source licensing and removing trademark constraints. Its stated aim is to create a sustainable office suite under European stewardship that can be integrated into different platforms
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Market shift
Backers argue that many existing alternatives involve trade-offs in compatibility, usability or governance. They also cite legal and licensing concerns, particularly for public bodies and organisations handling sensitive information.
The argument reflects a broader European debate over digital sovereignty, as governments and businesses seek more control over software, infrastructure and data. Office productivity tools have become part of that discussion because they remain central to day-to-day work across public administration, education and business.
Achim Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of IONOS, said the political backdrop had increased demand for European options.
“With the geo-political developments we have seen in the last year, there is a clear need for a reliable, fully Microsoft-compatible and easy to use sovereign office solution in Europe,” Weiss said. “Our joint initiative delivers a suite with an extremely familiar interface and capable of working with documents, presentations and spreadsheets.”
Frank Karlitschek, Chief Executive Officer of Nextcloud, said the sector already had many of the underlying components needed to assemble such a product.
“Europe has had the technical building blocks for years. What was missing until now was an initiative to bring them together into a meaningful, comprehensive solution,” Karlitschek said. “With Euro-Office, we’re not starting from scratch; instead, we’re taking responsibility for a vital piece of digital infrastructure. This finally gives organizations tools they can trust: transparent, durable, and managed in Europe.”
Coalition model
The organisers say the project is intended to be more than a single software launch. They describe it as an effort to build a longer-term ecosystem around an office suite maintained by a broader European community rather than controlled by a single vendor.
According to the coalition, participants have committed staff and other resources to the effort. The code is being developed through a process that backers say is open to public scrutiny and outside contribution.
That structure may prove important if Euro-Office is to win support from public sector buyers and regulated industries, where procurement decisions often take governance, licensing terms and long-term maintenance into account. It may also appeal to organisations looking to reduce reliance on a narrow group of overseas software suppliers.
The immediate test will be whether the tech preview shows enough compatibility with widely used Microsoft document formats to persuade organisations to evaluate it seriously. Ease of migration and user familiarity are likely to be central issues, especially in large administrations and businesses with established workflows.
IONOS says it serves around 6.6 million customers and operates in 17 markets across Europe and North America. Nextcloud says its software is used by tens of thousands of private and public organisations and by tens of millions of individuals.
The coalition is inviting other companies, public bodies and community contributors to join the project and help shape the suite’s development.
The popular shopping centre in Oxford’s Queen Street already has an exciting mix of shops on offer, from first-class dining options to familiar high street favourites and world-renowned brands.
Now, the Westgate has welcomed the latest addition to its retail offering, as David Clulow opticians opened on Friday, June 26.
READ MORE: All train lines closed out of Oxford for works from tonight
The eye health specialist store showcases the brand’s modernised retail format, with state-of-the-art testing rooms and improved accessibility.
It’s broad product range also includes designer frames from the likes of Chanel, Prada and Ray-Ban.
The store is the latest edition to David Clulow’s store collection which is hosted in nearly 30 cities and shopping centres across the UK.
The introduction of the new shop is the latest in a long line of recent Westgate comings and goings in recent months.
Shoe chain Russell & Bromley has departed its ground-floor store, leaving the unit empty, after the brand fell into administration.
READ MORE: Abingdon police seek to identify man who ‘frequents’ park
Similarly, Claire’s has also closed at the Westgate after the beauty and accessory brand also collapsed into administration.
Last month, the new Lego store opened on the ground floor of the centre, welcoming queues of shoppers at its grand opening event.
Oliver Bonas also recently moved from its home on the ground floor to a much larger unit on the middle floor, near the Queen Street and Bonn Square entrance.
The scheme, designed to support attendance at Armed Forces Day events, will be in effect across the UK on June 27 and June 28.
It applies to all Stagecoach services except those operated by Megabus, Transport for London and the Bee Network.
To access free travel, serving military should wear uniform or present a valid military ID card, and veterans should present a veteran’s badge or military medal.
Martin Gibbon, managing director of Stagecoach West, said: “Our Armed Forces have given so much to protect our country, and offering free travel over this weekend is just a small gesture of our immense gratitude.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for our service people, past and present, to attend local events and celebrate with their communities.”
Stagecoach’s ongoing support for the military community includes similar free travel schemes on Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday.
The company’s Veterans Network also offers a platform for veterans and service families within the business to connect and shape a more supportive workplace.
Stagecoach was awarded the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award in 2024 in recognition of its commitment to supporting the military community.
Mr Gibbon said: “Through our Veterans Network, we are dedicated to ensuring Stagecoach remains a deeply supportive environment for the military community, both as passengers and as valued colleagues.”
Stagecoach has backed the Armed Forces Covenant since 2015.
Banbury-based Prodrive has joined forces with the British Motorsports Marshals Club (BMMC) in a new three-year partnership to back the more than 3,000 marshals represented by the BMMC.
Easily recognised by their trademark orange overalls, marshals play a critical role in the safe operation of racing events across circuits, rally stages, and hill climbs throughout the UK.
David Richards, chairman of Prodrive, said: “Motorsport simply wouldn’t happen without marshals.
“They are the backbone of our sport, giving their time, commitment and passion to ensure events run safely and successfully.”
The partnership will focus on raising awareness of the marshals’ work using the idea of ‘British Racing Orange’ and aims to strengthen the connection between the sport and its volunteer workforce.
It will also support the BMMC’s efforts to recruit, train, and equip new and existing marshals.
Chris Hobson, chair of the BMMC, said: “Marshals are one of the most visible and vital parts of motorsport.
“Our partnership with Prodrive will help us continue training and equipping marshals, helping them stay safe every time they are trackside.
“By working together, we can inspire more people to discover marshalling and join the BMMC.”
While Prodrive’s factory programmes compete globally across disciplines including endurance racing, rally-raid and beyond, the company remains deeply connected to the UK motorsport ecosystem and the marshal community that supports it.
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