Germany’s draft digital strategy prompts criticism over delays, vagueness

Germany’s digital strategy – promised for the first half of 2022 – has been delayed until the end of August. EURACTIV has seen the draft, which experts say falls short of expectations. The responsible ministry has promised further adjustments.

The German government has set itself the goal of carrying out a ‘digital transformation’ of the country within the current legislative period. The Minister of Transport and Digital Affairs, Volker Wissing, affirmed his ministry would be leading the initiative.

While digital topics are split over several ministries, the digital strategy will act as a unifying tool with which disparate bodies can coordinate approaches. 

After a long wait, a draft for the basis of this digital turnaround is finally in circulation. However, there are various shortcomings that stakeholders hope will be revised and clarified. 

“We welcome the fact that, after a delay of several months, the draft of a digital strategy will now be voted on by the various departments,” Achim Berg, president of the digital association Bitkom, said in a press statement on Tuesday (5 July). 

However, Bitkom laments that many open questions remain. For instance, it is unclear which measures are to be implemented when and in many fields of action, the strategy is still “thin”. 

According to Oliver Süme, chairman of the digital association eco, the description of the individual projects “falls short of our expectations in some cases”. 

The strategy envisions numerous digitalisation projects. For example, administrative steps should be completed quickly and easily online, and everyone should be able to identify themselves digitally and securely.

Open questions, vague language

Instead of a scattergun approach, Bitkom has long called for a strong concentration of funds on key digital technologies, which “is not being decisively addressed”.

There is also no clear commitment, in the form of a deadline, to abolishing the countless written form requirements. According to Bitkom, however, the draft at least offers “material for discussion and room for further development,” which “should be filled courageously and consistently in the further votes.” 

“The strengthening of high-performance and trustworthy digital infrastructures […] as well as an integrated IT concept for the federal government, the states and the municipalities remain too vague overall and should be further specified and underpinned with measurable goals and clear timetables,” eco’s Oliver Süme said. 

Strengthening trust and integrity in digital technologies is also an aspect that is insufficiently described in the draft, Süme added.  

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Three leveraging points

According to the strategy, particular space will be given to three major topics. These are the provision of data and gigabit networks, the introduction of secure e-identities, and uniform standards and frameworks for interoperability and scalability.

These three leveraging points shall be the basis for all future projects that will be implemented by the respective resort. 

“However, more than just sharpening is needed in the concretisation,” Bitkom commented.  

It is unclear when eID shall be introduced, what the prioritisation of goals is and how exactly the availability of data shall be increased. 

What is stated clearly is that everyone in Germany is to have access to gigabit networks by 2030, a proposition already covered in the EU’s Digital Decade targets.

The vision is that the strategy is seen as a “commitment for us as a federal government” and the coalition shall be measured against its goals at the end of the legislative period. 

A starting point 

On the first page, the draft emphasises that projects may be added, revised or replaced, clarifying that it is far from being finalised. “In the coming weeks, we will make the goals more tangible and measurable,” the draft assures.

The implementation of the strategy is to be “accompanied and steered” by a committee of state secretaries. However, it is still unclear how much budget will be available and when.

The final strategy is to be presented at a cabinet meeting in Meseberg on August 31. “Until then, we still have plenty of time, which should be used to revise and make improvements,” a press spokesperson for the digital ministry told EURACTIV. 

[Edited by Luca Bertuzzi/Nathalie Weatherald]

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