Welcome to ICYMI – a weekly snapshot of European news stories that have given me pause for thought. ICYMI is a chance for you to go beyond the front-page headlines and find out what other stories may be worthy of your attention. This week:
- Germany’s new government hits turbulence before take-off
- France publicly calls out Russia over a decade of cyberattacks
- Progress for women in European startups appears to have stalled
Germany’s new coalition government got off to a rocky start. Friedrich Merz, the centre-right CDU leader, failed to win sufficient votes to take Germany’s top spot of Chancellor, in what had been expected to be a formality.
Despite having the numbers needed to form a new government, a surprise rebellion by 18 unnamed MPs stopped the vote from going through, causing more than a few red faces for the would-be government.
Merz did in fact eventually triumph when a second vote took place, but the damage was done. As the Guardian puts it, it was a “complete catastrophe” and “a punch to the stomach” for Merz, exposing cracks in the coalition from day one.
It also gave the far-right AfD – the biggest opposition party in Germany – more fuel to question the government’s stability, with the party’s co-leader Alice Weidel posting on X that the chaos “shows what a weak foundation the small coalition is built on”.
While all that drama played out , Germany also appointed its first Digital Minister – a new role created to accelerate the country’s digital transformation. Karsten Wildberger is tasked with reducing Germany’s dependence on foreign technologies, developing a stronger domestic AI and data ecosystem, and unlocking new sources of capital for innovation.
The new ministry will have authority over digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and parts of the federal IT strategy – a sign the government is taking the digital agenda seriously. But as Horizont pointed out, Wildberger will need firm political support and significant investment to make Germany’s digital ambitions a reality.
The Netherlands ramps up it cyber defences and France takes a swipe at Moscow
In the run-up to the NATO summit next month, BNR reports that Dutch officials are warning about a likely rise in attacks – especially DDoS and hacktivist activity.
Matthijs van Amelsfort, head of the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre, said sectors like energy and transport are already being targeted and the agency is now working around the clock to prepare for possible attacks.
At the same time, a new report suggests that strict government procurement rules in the Netherlands could be getting in the way of cybersecurity innovation. Because of these rules, agencies tend to stick with tried-and-tested vendors rather than trying out newer and more innovative tools. The report calls for more flexible policies to help the public sector keep up with fast-moving threats.
Elsewhere on the continent, France took a swipe at Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, blaming it for a decade-long series of cyber-attacks. These include the TV5Monde broadcast attack in 2015, the leak of Emmanuel Macron’s campaign emails in 2017, and attempts to breach Olympic-related organisations last year.
This is the first time France has formally pointed the finger at Moscow, providing a clear signal that tensions with Russia are continuing to rise across Europe.
Sifted study shows there’s still a long way to go for women in tech
A new survey offers a closer look at the experience of women working in European startups. While the Sifted study shows that some progress has been made, the findings reveal that the gender pay gap in tech still sits at around 24%, with many women in tech are still earning less than men in similar roles.
The study also points out that women continue to be underrepresented in senior positions, while issues like heavier workloads than male counterparts, limited room to grow, and lower pay are common challenges, with 42% of women experiencing discrimination at work.
On a more positive note, the UK government announced £8.2 million in funding to help more girls study advanced maths, with the goal of opening up careers in AI and data science. It’s part of a broader plan to encourage more girls to consider STEM careers and equip young people with the skills needed for jobs in the tech sector.
