R.01 / MAJOR INITIATIVES

Five initiatives, case by case

Each case follows the same structure — background, challenge, objective, strategy, implementation, outcome, criticism and significance — using documented information only.

At the launch of a “Plattform #Staatsmodernisierung” (as shown on the backdrop).

CASE01

Ceconomy: from retailer to service platform

2021–2025 · CECONOMY AG / MediaMarktSaturn

Background

Europe's largest consumer-electronics retailer, with more than 1,000 stores, previously led by separate managements at holding and operating level.

Challenge

Online competition, thin margins and volatile demand after the pandemic.

Objective

Become a “customer-centric service platform”; adjusted EBIT above €500 m and a 30% online share by FY 2025/26.

Strategy

Omnichannel core plus services, marketplace, private label and retail media; 90% of stores modernised; loyalty programmes in more countries.

Implementation

Unified leadership from August 2021; marketplace live in Germany, Austria and Spain; myMediaMarkt Plus subscription in Germany from autumn 2023.

Outcome

FY 2023/24: sales €22.4 bn (+5.3%), online €5.1 bn, adjusted EBIT ≈ €305 m. He left before the target year.

Criticism

2022 profit warning; 2022/23 losses and no dividend; low market valuation; trade-press doubts about strategic innovation.

Broader significance

The template — pillars plus quantified targets — reappears in his ministerial agendas.

CASE02

The federal modernisation agendas

Federal: 1 Oct 2025 · Federal–state: 4 Dec 2025

Background

Germany's administration is spread across federal, state and municipal levels with high compliance costs for citizens and businesses.

Challenge

Reducing bureaucracy while digitalising services that depend on all three levels of government.

Objective

Up to 25% lower bureaucracy costs; 8% fewer federal administrative staff; 10% lower operating costs; business registration within 24 hours.

Strategy

About 80 federal measures in five fields of action, followed by more than 200 measures agreed with the state premiers.

Implementation

Bureaucracy-reporting portal (Dec 2025); relief packages (Nov 2025, Jul 2026); first federal–state progress report (Jun 2026).

Outcome

Government figures, Oct 2026: compliance costs down by more than €10 bn a year; 7 measures completed, 62 in implementation.

Criticism

Opposition parties described the ministry's results as “showcase successes” and a “beta version without further update” (Bundestag, May 2026).

Broader significance

Merz described the federal–state agenda as a “new, partnership-based relationship with the states”.

CASE03

Summit on European Digital Sovereignty

18 Nov 2025 · Berlin, EUREF-Campus

Background

Concern over Europe's dependence on non-European cloud, AI and platform providers.

Objective

A joint Franco-German and European agenda for digital sovereignty.

Implementation

Co-chaired by Merz and Macron; Wildberger gave the opening speech; more than 900 participants from 27 member states.

Outcome

A Franco-German taskforce; commitments in seven areas; more than €12 bn in private investment pledges; a sovereign AI for public administration announced with Mistral AI and SAP; a joint definition of digital sovereignty followed in June 2026.

Criticism

The call to postpone the AI Act's high-risk rules was contested; netzpolitik.org questioned the consistency of his sovereignty rhetoric with his openness to Palantir.

Broader significance

Positioned the new ministry in European digital policy within its first year.

CASE04

National Data Centre Strategy

Cabinet 18 Mar 2026

Background

About 3 GW of data-centre capacity at more than 2,000 sites; rising demand for AI compute.

Objective

More than 6 GW by 2030 and at least four times the AI compute.

Implementation

Online consultation from August 2025; 28 measures; half-year review 18 Sep 2026: 25 started, 4 completed.

Broader significance

Links digital policy to energy supply, land use and grid planning. Infrastructure →

CASE05

d-you: Germany's digital identity wallet

Cabinet 20 May 2026 · Launch planned 2 Jan 2027

Background

EU law requires member states to offer a European digital identity wallet.

Objective

A voluntary, free app for age verification, legally binding contracts, opening bank accounts and identification to authorities.

Implementation

Federal sandbox (Jan 2026); brand name d-you announced 9 Sep 2026; around 40 launch partners including Deutsche Post, Sparkassen, E.ON and Rossmann; €162 m in the 2026 budget.

Outcome

Not yet launched at the time of writing.

Criticism

Digital identity was initially split between the BMDS and the Interior Ministry, according to netzpolitik.org.

Broader significance

The most visible test of whether the ministry's work reaches citizens' everyday lives.

Sources

Ceconomy Capital Markets Day 2023: ceconomy-mms.com
Federal Government, modernisation agenda: bundesregierung.de
Federal Government, federal–state talks, Dec 2025: bundesregierung.de
Élysée, summit outcomes: elysee.fr
BMDS, d-you: bmds.bund.de
BMDS interim review, 7 Oct 2026: bmds.bund.de
netzpolitik.org, 19 Nov 2025: netzpolitik.org