In a landmark shift toward digital independence, the German state of Schleswig-Holstein is dropping Microsoft software across all public departments. By September 2025, civil servants, police, and judges will stop using Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and Windows — switching entirely to open-source alternatives. According to a report by France 24
Why Schleswig-Holstein is saying goodbye to Microsoft
“We’re done with Teams,” said Digitalisation Minister Dirk Schroedter via a video call using a German-built open-source platform. The government aims to regain control over data storage and software infrastructure while reducing reliance on American tech giants.
The transition impacts 30,000 public workers in its first phase. Another 30,000 teachers will join in the following years. The tools replacing Microsoft’s suite include LibreOffice (instead of Word and Excel), Open-Xchange (instead of Outlook), and Linux as the operating system replacing Windows.
Data will also move to German public clouds
Schroedter confirmed that state data will migrate to a German-run cloud infrastructure — ensuring no dependence on Microsoft Azure or other US-based platforms.
Geopolitics and EU tensions influencing decisions
The shift comes amid growing EU concern over digital dependencies, especially since Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency and heightened US-EU tech tensions. Microsoft is already under scrutiny: in 2023, the European Commission launched an antitrust investigation over bundling Microsoft Teams with other productivity software.
“The war in Ukraine revealed our energy dependencies. Now, we are confronting our digital ones,” Schroedter said. The state has received inquiries from other governments looking to replicate the model.
Economic incentives: long-term savings and fewer risks
Experts say moving away from proprietary licenses can significantly cut costs. Microsoft’s enterprise contracts often include unpredictable fees and mandatory upgrades. According to Benjamin Jean, founder of consultancy firm Inno3, open-source users avoid vendor lock-in and unexpected pricing pressure.
“When hit with surprise costs for updates, organizations feel cornered,” Jean said. Schleswig-Holstein expects to save tens of millions of euros over the coming years.
Resistance remains a challenge
Not all transitions go smoothly. In Munich, an early open-source pioneer, political support waned, and the city reverted to Microsoft in 2017. “If staff aren’t properly supported, they’ll want to go back to the old systems,” warned Francois Pellegrini, an IT professor at Bordeaux University.
A growing movement across Europe and beyond
Despite past setbacks, momentum is building. France’s gendarmerie has run Linux since the early 2000s. In 2023, India’s Ministry of Defence developed its own OS, Maya. In Denmark, local governments in Copenhagen and Aarhus are now exploring open-source replacements for Microsoft tools.
The EU is pushing open standards
The Interoperable Europe Act, enforced in 2024, encourages governments to prioritize open-source technologies. Benjamin Jean believes the next two to three years will be crucial: “We’ll start seeing real case studies that inspire wider adoption.”
