There has been significant movement in German politics over the past few weeks, and more changes are expected. On Wednesday, 6th November, Germany’s “traffic light” coalition, consisting of three parties, collapsed. New elections are anticipated to take place in February next year.
The collapse of the coalition government has created uncertainty at a time when we are facing global challenges and a transatlantic realignment. Therefore, eco calls on all political leaders to take responsibility in addressing the tasks ahead and establishing planning security. A pragmatic and swift approach is now required to ensure reliability for the economy, society, and international partners.
In the area of digital policy, many projects remain unfinished, including those based on European legislation such as the Data Governance Act. This week, a hearing took place regarding the German Data Governance Act (DGG), with eco Chair of the Board, Oliver Süme, participating as an invited expert. Given that this legislation is currently in the parliamentary process, eco advocates for its swift adoption.
Other laws that may be affected by the current political situation include the implementation of the NIS2 Directive (NIS2UmsuCG) and the KRITIS Umbrella Act (KRITISDachG), which are also covered in this issue.
Additionally, this issue presents a profound review of a recent study by the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany on the spillover effects of data centres, insights from this year’s Internet Policy Forum, and a joint industry statement on data processing, co-signed by eco.
