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2025: Removing Microsoft Software and Moving Judges to Linux
The Federal State of Schleswig-Holstein Germany decides to abandon software Microsoft the public sector and transfer all systems to free software based on. Linux Digitalization Minister Dirk Schrödter announced the complete completion of the transition within three months. The decision was announced in June 2025.
According to The Economic Times, the large-scale transition will affect about 30 thousand civil servants, including police officers and judges. Later, they plan to join school teachers and other employees of state institutions to the initiative. This decision is called a landmark step towards ensuring the "digital sovereignty" of the region.
Preparations for the abandonment of Microsoft products began in April 2024, when the local government announced its intention to abandon proprietary solutions. The authorities explained the decision by the lack of control over the internal processes of foreign software and the inability to guarantee the security of data of citizens and organizations.
Schroedter emphasized the need for independent state action when choosing an IT infrastructure. The minister noted that the conflict in Ukraine demonstrated not only the energy vulnerability of Europe, but also digital dependence on foreign technology suppliers.
Government data will be transferred from the Microsoft Azure cloud service to European storage. This approach aims to limit the impact of overseas technology companies on critical government infrastructure.
Economic motivations also play an important role in the decision. Abandoning Microsoft licenses and related mandatory updates will save tens of millions of euros. The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 requires additional significant budget costs.[1]
2024: Development of e-government in Germany almost completely halted
On December 21, 2024, the German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that the digitalization of public services in Germany had actually stopped. Of the 579 public services mandated for digitalization by the Internet Access Act, only 101 services are fully digitally available, up 20 from 2023, according to an analysis by Verivox.
According to the Red Spring news agency, according to Verivox, 105 services have been partially digital, and a personal turnout is still required to receive 373 services. Among the most digitally available services are applications for unemployment benefits, care benefits and driver's licenses. However, important procedures such as bankruptcies, land registry entries and disability benefits remain completely unavailable online.
Verivox expert Jörg Shamberg noted that one of the main reasons for slow progress is the lack of standardized software, which has led to fragmentation of solutions. In addition, problems with training staff in digital technologies further exacerbate the situation. According to him, such a pace of implementation of digitalization is tantamount to a "declaration of surrender."
According to Der Spiegel, one of the key problems is the lack of integration between the authorities. As part of digitalization, the German authorities have developed more than 6,000 small bureaucratic tasks, which are combined into 579 services. However, most of them require significant participation of citizens. For example, you can apply for an identity card online, but to obtain it, citizens must still visit the office. Thus, none of the services has yet reached the highest level of digitalization, in which the exchange of data between the authorities is carried out automatically and without the participation of citizens.[2]
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