Digital Ministry Secures a € 6.5 Billion Funding Allotment
The Budget of the Federal Ministry of Digitalization and State Modernization (BMDS) is still under preparation, with specific details yet to be disclosed fully. The BMDS budget is crucial for ensuring long-term, reliable funding for key tasks, such as the Centre for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS), which supports public administrations in achieving technological sovereignty through Free Software.
Currently, there are concerns that the BMDS budget may not adequately allocate funds for Free Software initiatives, which are essential for digital sovereignty. Funding for these initiatives, including ZenDiS, needs to be prioritized and should reflect the government's commitment to the “Public Money? Public Code!” principle, promoting the use of Free Software over proprietary licenses.
While the exact contributions from other ministries are not yet clear, it is suggested that the Ministry of the Interior plays a role in budgeting Free Software initiatives linked to BMDS tasks. This assumption is based on the ongoing budget debates, which include Free Software funding in the Ministry of the Interior’s budget.
According to a report by the Federal Court of Audit, the BMDS has a planned budget of 6.5 billion euros. The Federal Ministry of Transport is set to contribute 3.44 billion euros to the BMDS budget. The Federal Ministry of Economics will contribute 60 million euros, and the Federal Ministry of Justice will contribute 700,000 euros. The Federal Ministry of Finance will contribute 1.68 billion euros, mainly for the Information Technology Center (ITZ) Bund. The Federal Ministry of the Interior will contribute 1.32 billion euros for "IT and Network Policy and Modern Administration" to the BMDS.
The expansion of broadband networks is financed by the special fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality, which also contributes to parts of modern administration. The BMDS budget planning has been a topic of controversial debates in the Bundestag, with the lack of clarity over the budget figures in the current draft budget sparking sharp criticism from the opposition during the budget debate.
The details of the BMDS budget were first reported by "Welt" and Business Insider, and the budget is a topic of interest to the Budget Committee of the Bundestag. However, changes to the exact design of the individual budget for the BMDS are possible, as ongoing negotiations between the ministries may lead to adjustments.
[1] Source: The details provided in this article are based on a comprehensive search of the available information as of the current date. However, it should be noted that the situation may evolve as negotiations and discussions continue.
- The Federal Ministry of Finance, with its contribution of 1.68 billion euros, plays a significant role in funding for the Information Technology Center (ITZ) Bund within the Budget of the Federal Ministry of Digitalization and State Modernization (BMDS), but concerns persist about its allocation for Free Software initiatives.
- Despite the upcoming budget, prioritization of funding for Free Software initiatives, including the Centre for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS), should reflect the government's commitment to the “Public Money? Public Code!” principle, ensuring it promotes the use of Free Software over proprietary licenses.
