Carolina Steadge, the Minister of Digitalization in the Danish Government, has confirmed the coordination between the government and regional authorities in the implementation of the digital sovereignty strategy. This strategy involves the first stage of abandoning Microsoft products in favor of open software, with LibreOffice being chosen as the new office package. Over the next month, half of the employees will be transferred to LibreOffice, and the goal is to complete the transition for all employees by the end of the year.
In addition to the national government, municipal authorities in Copenhagen and Odense have also decided to stop using Microsoft as their main IT services provider. The decision was primarily driven by financial reasons, as the cost of Microsoft products has increased significantly over the years. For example, the cost of purchasing Microsoft products for a five-year period rose by 72% from 313 million krones in 2018 to 538 million krones in 2023. This significant increase, combined with Microsoft’s near-monopoly position in the market and the geopolitical concerns sparked by statements from the US president regarding Greenland, prompted the move towards open software alternatives.