eco – Association of the Internet Industry views the decision of the German political parties in exploratory talks on the formation of the new government, CDU, CSU and SPD, as a positive contribution to the successful digitalisation of Germany.
Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board at eco, comments: ‘It is important that a significant share of the planned special fund for infrastructure, amounting to 500 billion Euro, is also invested in digitalisation, as the agreement intends. However, it should not just be about providing funds. The future coalition partners must also address structural challenges.’
This applies, for example, to the construction and operation of data centres, which is not lucrative in Germany due to bureaucratic requirements – and is often even impossible. ‘Reporting and disclosure requirements are a particular burden on the digital economy, especially on SMEs,’ Süme continued.
Finally, the association is also calling for political control of digitalisation to be made more stringent in the future so as to avoid the kind of blockades that characterised German digital policy in the last legislative period. ‘A Federal Ministry for Digitalisation and Transformation (BMDiT) can help to tackle the major challenges of digitalisation in Germany in a structured way, with clear priorities and competences, and thus help Germany to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of digitalisation,’ says Oliver Süme.
eco’s Internet Policy Agenda and other digital policy papers such as a Internet policy election programme check and a concept paper for a Ministry of Digitalisation can be found online at: https://international.eco.de/news/electiondigital-2025-digital-policy-in-focus/
