Germany decides to abandon Microsoft due to digital sovereignty

The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has taken an important step toward preserving digital sovereignty by deciding to abandon the use of Microsoft products.

Digitalization Minister Dirk Schroedter announced that the local administration will no longer use software from the American company, including Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, and in the future even the Windows operating system.

Instead, the Schleswig-Holstein government has turned to open source solutions such as LibreOffice and Linux. The reason for this transition is the desire to regain control over their own data and reduce dependence on American tech giants. The minister noted that the escalation of the geopolitical situation, especially after Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the intensification of tensions between the US and the European Union, has made the issue of digital independence even more relevant.

Schroeder compared the current situation to energy dependence, which became apparent due to the war in Ukraine, and stressed that Germany now faces another threat: digital dependence on foreign technology companies. The transition, which will affect all 60,000 civil servants, including police officers, judges, and teachers, will begin in the next three months.

One of the main goals of this decision is to transfer data from Microsoft’s cloud to German servers, which will strengthen sovereignty and save tens of millions of euros by avoiding license fees and constant software updates. This move should also resolve long-standing antitrust issues, including the EU investigation into Microsoft’s monopoly in the corporate communications market, particularly in the context of Teams.

It should be noted that this move is important not only for Germany but for the whole of Europe. Schleswig-Holstein is already joining a group advocating digital autonomy, following France, where the gendarmerie has also switched to other technological solutions. Supported by the EU’s new “Law on a Connected Europe,” Schleswig-Holstein is trying to prove that states can regain control over their digital infrastructure without relying on foreign giants.