- eco: The future Ministry of Digitalisation will coordinate these central tasks
- 5 priorities for the new German federal government’s first 100 days
- Infrastructure as a special fund: “An important step for digitalisation”
The digital transformation in Germany requires clear leadership and targeted management immediately after the formation of the new government. eco is therefore calling for the rapid establishment of an independent Ministry of Digitalisation that will coordinate and decisively address all digital challenges.
“In the upcoming legislative period, the clear vision for a digital Germany by 2030 must already be enshrined in the coalition agreement. There is also a need for clear structures and responsibilities for a Ministry of Digitalisation 2.0, which will consistently drive Germany’s digital transformation forward with its own budget and cross-departmental competencies,” says Oliver Süme, Chair of the Board of eco.
eco defines these key tasks for the Ministry of Digitalisation
Only an independent Ministry of Digitalisation and Transformation can optimally coordinate the implementation of a coherent digital strategy. The Association of the Internet Industry has clearly defined the key responsibilities of this ministry:
- Coordination and management: The ministry will serve as the central point of contact for the digitalisation of administration, economy and society, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders work together effectively.
- Consolidating competencies: The ministry will be responsible for the topics of network and infrastructure policy, digital economy, cybersecurity and resilience, as well as digital administration, thus ensuring a holistic approach to digital challenges.
- Regulation and implementation: The ministry will ensure that digital projects and initiatives in Germany are efficiently implemented and that all relevant security and data protection standards are met.
- Promotion of innovation and research: The ministry will particularly promote disruptive technologies and Leading Edge Innovation to strengthen Germany as a location for innovation in the digital sector in the long term.
5 digital policy priorities for the new German federal government in its first 100 days
In addition to establishing a Ministry of Digitalisation and Transformation, the next German federal government should prioritise the following five agenda items in the context of digital legislation in its first 100 days:
- Implementation law for the AI Act: Rapid standardisation, clear definitions and close coordination between the AI Act and existing regulations are needed to avoid redundancies and uncertainties. Only in this way can Europe fulfil its ambitions as a leading AI location.
- The NIS2 implementation law: The German federal government must now act swiftly to finally implement the NIS2 Directive in Germany. The missed deadline of 17 October 2024 has already created significant legal uncertainty for internationally operating companies.
- Implementation law for the Data Act: To fully realise the potential of the Data Act, the right course must also be set at the national level. Although the Data Act is directly applicable as a regulation in all EU Member States, care must now be taken to ensure that the national implementation of the law is coherent across Europe.
- The KRITIS-DachG (KRITIS Umbrella Act): The new German federal government must ensure that providers that are already regulated by other laws are not subject to additional obligations or dual oversight under the KRITIS Umbrella Act. However, the current draft law does not completely eliminate this risk, as the telecommunications and IT sector continues to be partially covered by the law.
- The Telecommunications Network Expansion Acceleration Act: The new German federal government must continue to drive forward and promote network expansion, also in the context of European Regulation. The expansion of telecommunications infrastructure must be classified as an outstanding public interest and should therefore be given priority.
Special infrastructure fund: A first positive contribution to digitalisation
eco views the decision of the coalition partners CDU, CSU and SPD to establish a special infrastructure fund worth €500 billion as a first positive step towards Germany’s digitalisation. “It is now crucial that a significant portion of this special fund is allocated to digitalisation. However, simply providing financial resources is not enough. The future coalition partners must also address the structural challenges. Currently, too many reporting and compliance obligations are currently placing a heavy burden on the digital economy, especially on SMEs,” concluded Süme.
The concept paper for a Ministry of Digitalisation and eco’s Internet policy agenda can be found online at: Election/Digital2025
