Germany's Deutschland-Stack framework specifies ODF and PDF/UA as the only permitted document formats for public administrations, excluding proprietary options like .doc and .xls. Published by the Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, it applies nationwide from federal to municipal levels.
The Deutschland-Stack, Germany's new sovereign digital infrastructure framework, standardizes document formats to promote open standards and reduce dependency on proprietary software. It explicitly names ODF (OpenDocument Format) and PDF/UA as the sole allowed formats across all public administrations, including federal government bodies, states, and municipalities. Formats such as Microsoft's .doc, .ppt, and .xls are not included in the list of permitted options, addressing concerns over vendor lock-in where administrations become dependent on specific companies for document handling and updates at high cost and disruption risk. The framework lists reducing lock-in effects as a core goal, alongside prioritizing open source solutions and sourcing from European providers over foreign ones where possible. Rollout of key infrastructure components is targeted for 2028. ODF is an XML-based, vendor-neutral format for text files, spreadsheets, charts, and graphical documents, maintained by OASIS and recognized as ISO/IEC 26300. PDF/UA (PDF/Universal Accessibility) follows ISO 14289, ensuring PDFs are compatible with assistive technologies like screen readers to serve diverse populations. Florian Effenberger, Executive Director of The Document Foundation, stated on the subject.
