The city administration has found a solution for keeping the email addresses ending in @muenster.de (view the council document). From 1 August, users will be able to use their address for a small monthly fee via a private German provider. Originally, the addresses were to be shut down for cost reasons.
Commenting on this, Albert Wenzel, digital policy spokesperson and group spokesperson of the Greens' council group, states:
“The planned shutdown of the addresses worried users. Those affected told us that they are willing to pay to keep using them – not least in view of the city's difficult budget situation. That is why the solution found is a good compromise: the email addresses will continue to exist – but not at the taxpayers' expense.”
And Noah Börnhorst, digital policy spokesperson of the SPD council group, emphasises:
“The roughly 10,000 users can breathe a sigh of relief. They can continue to use their familiar email address as usual. It was important to us that, after many years of trouble-free use of ‘muenster.de’, people are not forced to move to a new address.”
Finally, Sven Konopka, digital policy spokesperson of the Volt council group, emphasises:
“By switching to an email provider in Germany, users' data can remain on servers in Germany. Especially in times like these, the importance of digital sovereignty cannot be overstated. That is why we are pleased that the city administration has found a good solution following political intervention.”
Joint press release by the Greens, SPD and Volt
