Jürgen Haas Proposes Charter-First Approach to Drupal Federation

Revisiting plans for an International Drupal Federation, Drupal contributor Jürgen Haas has proposed establishing a governance charter before asking prospective members to consider fees and commitments. His 20 October 2026 blog post on LakeDrops outlines a two-stage approach to the existing initiative. Haas presents the proposal as his personal view, not an adopted plan or working-group recommendation.

The International Drupal Federation Initiative began in May 2025, with the Drupal Association establishing a working group to explore a membership-based international nonprofit. The proposed organisation would coordinate with existing associations, support shared governance and reduce reliance on a single legal jurisdiction. The group subsequently conducted consultations and developed a draft business model, previously covered by The DropTimes.

Haas argues that discussions about membership benefits and costs can complicate the design of an organisation involving multiple associations. His proposed first phase would define the federation's objectives, responsibilities, decision-making procedures, legal framework, membership eligibility and conflict resolution mechanisms. Prospective members would consider whether to join, and under what financial arrangements, only after the charter was completed.

The proposal follows the Drupal Association's public board meeting at DrupalCon Rotterdam on 29 September 2026. According to Haas, the Association expressed support for the federation but indicated that it would not lead implementation, while remaining available for consultation. That account has not been independently confirmed through published meeting minutes or an official statement.

The original federation initiative also envisaged an international nonprofit established under Belgian law, known as an AISBL. Haas discusses that existing concept in relation to European funding opportunities, legal resilience and the stewardship of shared Drupal assets. His new contribution concerns the sequence of governance decisions rather than introducing a different legal structure.

Haas suggests that a small group of individuals, rather than representatives defending their associations' existing positions, could begin drafting the charter. He acknowledges that prospective members might ultimately decline to join. The proposal does not announce a new leadership group, an approved charter or a membership agreement.