Digital sovereignty in the coalition agreement: The implementation counts

The future German government is clearly committed to the use of open source and the development of a sovereign digital ecosystem. Under the title "Germany - Digital. Sovereign. Ambitious." , the coalition agreement formulates a clear ambition - but the decisive factor is not what is stated there, but what is done with it and what measures follow. Implementation in the coalition agreement is an important step - but it is still a long way from progress.

Digital sovereignty through open source

Who has control over our infrastructures, data and technologies? The topic of digital sovereignty begins with this "simple" question. Open source offers a convincing answer: openly accessible source code creates transparency, enables independent audits and allows sovereign use and further development.

Open source is therefore not a technical detail, but a strategic foundation for a digital infrastructure that guarantees democratic values, legal certainty and freedom of innovation.

The US CLOUD Act illustrates the urgency, as it allows American authorities to access data that is processed by US companies - even if it is physically stored in Europe. This legal possibility of extraterritorial data access calls European data protection standards into question and makes it clear how great the structural dependence on non-European providers is.

If you really want sovereignty, you also have to make it technically possible - this is where change begins.

Now we need a strategy...

It takes more than just the desire for open source. We need a strategy that fulfils this requirement - with clear responsibilities, concrete goals and the willingness to question and change outdated structures. This also includes a new approach to public investment. When taxpayers' money is channelled into digital infrastructure, the benefits must not end with individual providers - they must benefit society as a whole. Time and again, considerable sums are channelled into proprietary software solutions whose source code is not accessible and whose further development is in the hands of a few.

This must change: software that is financed with public funds should be openly accessible, verifiable and reusable. This is the only way to ensure transparency, control and sustainable value creation. Public money - public code is not an ideal - it should become a guiding principle.

... and commitment

The coalition agreement declares digital policy to be power, economic and social policy - with the aim of creating a digitally sovereign Germany. It mentions open standards, a strategically orientated IT budget and ambitious goals for open source. However, it is precisely this ambition that must now be reflected in clear responsibilities, binding budgets and tangible solutions at federal, state and local level - otherwise it will remain a political signal without effect.

The political necessity has long been recognised - but the pressure to act is growing. The recent change of power in the USA shows how quickly legal foundations can be shaken. Digital sovereignty must therefore not be seen as a goal for tomorrow, but as a task for today. Those who fail to act now risk entering into new dependencies before the old ones have been overcome.

Using the potential of SMEs

Future-proof digitalisation requires solutions that are not only technologically convincing, but also meet the regulatory requirements and are sustainable in the long term. Exactly such offerings have long existed - developed and operated under European control, with a focus on security, transparency and sustainability.

One example of this is the Heinlein Group with its platforms mailbox.org (secure email), OpenTalk (privacy-compliant video conferencing) and OpenCloud (file sharing & teamwork). Together, they form a complete ecosystem for sovereign digital communication - GDPR-compliant, modular and independent of US infrastructures.

Digital sovereignty needs flexible structures, not large-scale projects

In the past, large-scale centralised IT projects have often generated more complexity than progress - and created new dependencies in the process. Instead of relying on a few expensive solutions, we need decentralised, modular infrastructures that can be flexibly adapted and operated across Europe. This is the only way to truly ensure digital resilience and political freedom.

OpenCloud: A sovereign alternative

Digital sovereignty is not only created by laws or strategy papers, but by concrete technologies that work in everyday life - reliably, transparently and under European control.

OpenCloud is a platform that shows how digital collaboration based on open source and European data protection standards is already possible today. Functions such as shared file spaces, differentiable access rights, integrated web office applications and an intelligent search function enable an efficient working environment - without dependence on non-European infrastructures.

The coalition agreement formulates an ambitious goal with the "Germany Stack" and the "German Administration Cloud": interoperable, sovereign and exclusively with trustworthy providers. OpenCloud shows that this vision is already realisable - but it requires a willingness to use available solutions in a targeted manner.

It's not just about technology, but also about social empowerment. Digital sovereignty affects municipal administrations as well as schools, non-profit organisations and companies. Sovereign infrastructures not only protect sensitive data - they also strengthen democratic processes, economic independence and trust in government action.

Conclusion: Digital sovereignty begins with decisive decisions

The coalition agreement has named the right goal: a digitally sovereign Germany based on open, comprehensible technologies. But the real challenge lies between ambition and reality. Now is the time to turn announcements into concrete decisions - in procurement, in infrastructure policy and in cooperation with reliable partners.

The solutions are there. There is no lack of technology, but rather a lack of strategic commitment in legislation and procurement practice. Digital sovereignty means regaining control over central resources. Investing in open systems today lays the foundation for a digital future that is secure, democratic and independent.

The change starts with the decisions that are made today.