Time to Slash the Administrative Weight! 🔧
The bureaucratic load stirred up by new regulations has reached an all-time high, according to the German Regulatory Control Council (NKR) in their latest annual report. This independent body has been scrutinizing the cost and time impact of new laws for years.
The most recent report, covering the July 2022–June 2023 period, reveals that the burden on businesses, authorities, and the population–due to federal regulations–has skyrocketed by 9.3 billion euros annually, with a one-time cost of 23.7 billion euros. The Building Energy Act was the leading cost driver, albeit a source of significant future benefits. The gas and electricity price caps were under fire from NKR Deputy Chairwoman Sabine Kuhlmann, who deemed them incredibly convoluted.
Call for a Bold Reform 🛠️
NKR Chairman Lutz Goebel voiced concerns that if overly complex laws were to be executed by an understaffed and digitally delayed administration, the mountain of administrative tasks would grow alarmingly high. He advocated for a "brave approach to leaving gaps," implying that more efficient structures could lessen the weight of regulations. A renewed federalism reform is also urgently needed, as claimed by Goebel.
On a brighter note, Lutz commended the Federal Ministry of Economics for acknowledging the need for streamlined processes to push forward with the government's green transformation agenda. However, Vice Chairman Kuhlmann highlighted that the government was short on practical action to reduce bureaucratic burdens.
Lack of Clarity and Transparency 🧐
Kuhlmann criticized the Federal Ministry of the Interior for the opaqueness surrounding its plans to digitalize administrative services. According to her, the initially proposed basic child insurance reform did not guarantee a simplification, especially in the implementation process, which would involve numerous authorities.
NKR Chairman Lutz accused the Ministry of the Interior of shying away from transparency in digitalization matters. The Ministry's plans surrounding the Online Access Act seemed to have disappeared without a trace, in the Council's view.
The administration faces heavy critiques for the complexity of the Building Energy Act, which has heightened the bureaucratic strain on companies and the population. The Administration also grapples with the intricate nature of the gas and electricity price caps, a position that is met with great criticism from NKR Deputy Chairwoman Sabine Kuhlmann. Transparency within the Federal Government's administrative digitalization efforts is also under scrutiny, as highlighted by NKR Vice Chairman Lutz.
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Enrichment Data
To lessen the bureaucratic burden and improve transparency in German politics, particularly with regard to new regulations and the digitalization of administrative services, consider implementing the following suggestions based on the supplied information:
- Thorough Bureaucracy Assessments:
- Party Plans: The SPD, CDU/CSU, and GRÜNE parties all prioritize reducing bureaucratic hurdles by digitizing checks and simplifying documentation and reporting obligations. This involves centralizing administrative tasks and budgets within a single ministry to streamline processes[1].
- Digital Services Empowerment:
- SPD & GRÜNE: Both parties advocate for the development of a centralized 'Germany app' that grants digital access to administrative services. This would enhance transparency and user-friendliness of public services[1].
- Cybersecurity & Digital Infrastructure:
- CDU/CSU: The CDU/CSU plans to accelerate the expansion of digital infrastructures and cybersecurity measures, ensuring safety for security-relevant technologies and upgrading internal digital systems for public authorities and companies[1].
- Simplification of Formality Requirements:
- Bureaucracy Reduction Act IV (BEG IV): Simplifying formal requirements for employment contracts through digital agreements for open-ended contracts while maintaining a written form for fixed-term contracts helps reduce redundancies in certain administrative processes[5].
- IT Infrastructure Modernization:
- CANCOM Public Team: This team supports federal and state agencies in planning and executing necessary IT infrastructure for efficient administration. This includes migrating to cloud-based services and improving internal digital services like registers and databases[3].
- Transparency in Digital Services:
- Online Access Act (OZG): Aim for user-friendly digital citizen services that interlink and are readily available. Modernize internal administrative services to guarantee maximum transparency and ease of access[3].
These measures collectively pursue objectives to diminish bureaucratic hurdles, improve transparency, and supercharge the digitization of administrative services in Germany.
