The German government has recently stepped up the pace of its digital policy. Nevertheless, the speed is nowhere near enough to even come close to achieving the goals it has set itself. As of 1 January 2024, only 60 of the total of 334 digital policy projects in this legislative period have been implemented - this corresponds to 18%. In the second half of 2023, the federal government was only able to complete 22 digital projects, 5 of which were brought across the finish line in the third quarter and 17 in the fourth quarter.
This is the conclusion of the latest evaluation of Bitkom's “Digital Policy Monitor”. It was first published in August 2023 and updated at the turn of the year. According to the report, 226 digital policy projects are currently being implemented (68 percent), while 48 have not yet been started (14 percent).
“Even though the German government has made up some ground in recent months: Many key projects are a long way from completion or implementation, including in particular the Digital Pact 2.0 for Germany's schools, the digitalisation of administration and also projects such as the digital driving licence”, says Bitkom President Dr Ralf Wintergerst.
“The Ampel has it in its own hands to become a real coalition for progress”
In order to complete all 334 projects before the next federal elections, 274 projects would have to be realised in 7 quarters. However, if the traffic light coalition continues at the current pace of 17 completed digital projects per quarter, it would only complete 119. Including the 60 projects already completed, it would only complete just over half of its digital projects (54 percent) with a total of 179. The rest would fall by the wayside.
Wintergerst: “The federal government must more than double the pace of digital policy if it still wants to achieve its goals. It will now be decided whether the “traffic light” parties will be able to present a digital policy track record at the next general election. This is still possible. The traffic light coalition has it in its own hands to become a real coalition for progress. To do so, it must make 2024 the digital year.”
The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) was the most successful in the past quarter, completing five further projects. It was followed by the Ministry of Finance (BMF) with four completed digital policy projects. Among other things, the two ministries finalised projects to improve financing opportunities for start-ups.
Other major projects implemented in the past quarter include the digital pact for the justice system. However, six ministries made no progress at all in the past quarter.
