Today, the CDU, CSU and SPD are starting their coalition negotiations. Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board at eco – Association of the Internet Industry, explains:
“The start of the coalition negotiations is an opportunity to reset the key directions for the digitalisation of Germany. We welcome the fact that a working group has been set up for digital issues. However, digital policy affects much more than just a single area – it must be anchored as a cross-cutting issue in all relevant policy fields. Nonetheless, the current exploratory state of preliminary talks shows that there is still a considerable need for improvement in the area of digitalisation. What is missing is a clear vision for a digital Germany in 2030, a comprehensive digital strategy, a dedicated digital budget and a future-proof Ministry of Digitalisation with real competencies.”
eco is therefore calling for a consistent and comprehensive digital policy. “The German federal government must recognise the signs of the times and understand that digitalisation is a central future topic. An isolated view of individual measures such as e-government or increasing resilience is not enough. What is needed is a coherent overall concept that promotes economic innovation, ensures social participation and strengthens Germany’s digital sovereignty,” Süme continues.
In recent weeks, eco has already emphasised that Germany needs an overarching digital strategy that combines all relevant digital topics under an independent German Federal Ministry for Digitalisation and Transformation (BMDiT) – equipped with its own budget and clear competencies. However, the current exploratory results do not indicate that such a ministry is still on the political agenda.
“The incoming German federal government must now make the right decisions to catch up with Germany’s digital lag and set the course for the future,” concludes Süme.
Further information on eco’s Internet Policy Agenda can be found online at: Election/Digital2025
