Leaders of Germany’s 16 states agreed on Thursday to a 200-point plan to modernize government services,
The country is notorious for its bureaucracy, which limits most official communications to mail and occasional faxes. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made addressing this a priority for the coalition government.
Now, according to Rhineland-Palatinate state premier Alexander Schweitzer, the prime ministers of Germany’s 16 states have agreed on a “federal modernization agenda” aimed at cutting red tape and making life easier for citizens and businesses.
“By strengthening the structures, we make it easier for citizens to access services as well as relieve the burden on the administration,” he said.
What is in the modernization plan?
The prime ministers discussed the plan with Merz during a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin.
Some measures include:
- Allowing email to replace paper documents still required for official use.
- One-time data collection: Citizens and companies submit information only once, agencies share the data centrally.
- Fast approval: Many types of applications are automatically approved if the authorities do not respond within three months.
- Reducing paperwork by cutting reporting and disclosure obligations as well as documentation requirements by at least one-third to save companies time and reduce personnel costs.
The economic impact of bureaucracy is significant. A study by the Ifo Economic Institute in November showed that excessive bureaucracy costs Germany about €150 billion ($175.94 billion) in economic output per year.
Merz’s government in October approved measures aimed at reducing bureaucracy at the national level and making doing business faster and easier.
State prime ministers hope their proposals will complement those measures.
Saxony’s state prime minister, Michael Kretschmer, said, “The population wants reform; they want to overcome stagnation.”
Edited by: Shawn Sinico