Our Work

Effective policymaking depends on accurate market knowledge. Free ICT Europe brings the experience of independent maintenance, repair, refurbishment, reuse and software-market businesses into European policy discussions.

We gather evidence from our members, identify barriers in the ICT aftermarket and translate practical market experience into constructive policy recommendations. We contribute through consultations, working groups, position papers, research, meetings with policymakers and cooperation with other organisations.

EU policy and legislation

We monitor and contribute to European initiatives that affect the ICT aftermarket, including:

  • Right to Repair and its implementation across EU Member States
  • Ecodesign requirements for servers, data storage products, electronic displays and other ICT product groups
  • The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and the development of Digital Product Passports
  • The Cyber Resilience Act and access to security updates throughout extended product lifecycles
  • EU circular economy and resource-efficiency policy, including the developing Circular Economy Act
  • Policies affecting software licensing, interoperability, data access and digital sovereignty
  • Public procurement rules that can enable refurbished equipment and independent maintenance

Standards and technical expertise

We participate in European standardisation discussions relevant to repairability, durability, upgradability, reuse, refurbishment and remanufacturing. As a member of the European Multi-Stakeholder Platform on ICT Standardisation, we contribute aftermarket expertise to discussions concerning European ICT standards and priorities.

Research and evidence

We contribute practical market knowledge to European research and policy studies, including work involving the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Our research, reports and position papers demonstrate the economic, environmental and strategic importance of an open and competitive ICT aftermarket.

Engagement with policymakers

We engage with:

  • Members of the European Parliament
  • European Commission officials and Directorates-General
  • Member State representatives
  • Researchers and standardisation bodies
  • Industry associations and civil-society organisations

These relationships ensure that independent aftermarket experience is represented when European ICT policy is developed.

Member and market engagement

We collect feedback from our members and the wider ICT aftermarket to identify emerging barriers, unintended policy consequences and opportunities for market growth. Through our committees and working groups, members help shape FIE’s positions and contribute specialist knowledge from across the hardware, software, maintenance and reuse sectors.

Collaboration and communication

We work with European and international organisations on shared objectives, publish policy analysis and industry guidance, and represent the ICT aftermarket at conferences, workshops and stakeholder events.

Our Track Record

  • Contributed to EU Ecodesign requirements for servers and data storage products, including provisions on firmware, technical information and secure data deletion.
  • Provided input into European repairability-scoring research.
  • Promoted independent maintenance, refurbished hardware and secondary software in sustainable public procurement.
  • Contributed market expertise to European research on WEEE, reuse and circular ICT.
  • Commissioned economic research into the size and value of the European ICT aftermarket.
  • Built a network of policymakers, researchers, end-user representatives and industry organisations.