Bureaucracy shrinkage ordered by Amthor - Red Tape Leadership Holds by Amthor
Germany's Administrative Simplification Drive: A Digital-First Approach to Modernize the State
Germany is embarking on a comprehensive drive to modernize its administration and streamline bureaucratic processes, with a focus on digital transformation. Led by Philipp Amthor, the Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, the government is pursuing administrative simplification with commitment and seriousness.
Amthor's hometown is Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but his current role places him at the heart of this ambitious reform. The State Secretaries' Committee, headed by Amthor, has been established as a central hub for modernizing the state. This committee, which includes state secretaries from all ministries, was created by the federal cabinet and aims to reduce bureaucracy by at least 25 percent.
Key initiatives include the introduction of a digital wallet, which allows citizens to access official documents such as identification cards and driver’s licenses digitally. This initiative simplifies bureaucratic processes and improves user convenience. The government also emphasizes enabling Germany's over 10,000 software systems to interoperate seamlessly, rather than attempting to unify them.
A central data platform is being developed to connect local and regional authorities, enabling one-time data submission by citizens and system-wide data sharing. This streamlines procedures and enhances governmental responsiveness. The government is also collaborating with the federal states (Länder) to ensure a unified public administration across Germany, preventing fragmentation in modernization efforts and promoting cohesive reform implementation.
Amthor stresses reducing administrative formalities and improving fiscal discipline as essential pillars of the reform. He has promised action and measurable results for more efficient saving and increased efficiency in the administrative simplification process. The goal is to make Germany more competitive and shed unnecessary burdens, especially for businesses, who will be relieved of reporting obligations.
New laws will be scrutinized to ensure they are practical for digitalization, and the number of federal agencies will be reviewed as part of the administrative simplification process. The Norm Control Council has acknowledged the administrative simplification as a major challenge, reflecting the scale of the reform.
In summary, Amthor and the German government pursue administrative simplification chiefly through digital transformation initiatives like the digital wallet, improved interoperability of IT systems, centralized data platforms, and cooperative federal-state governance to modernize the state and make administration more effective, transparent, and responsive to citizens. The administrative simplification process aims to make Germany more competitive and shed unnecessary burdens, ultimately benefiting both citizens and businesses.
[1] German Government's Administrative Simplification Initiative
[2] Philipp Amthor's Biography
[1] In line with the German Government's administrative simplification initiative, policy-and-legislation should focus on reducing bureaucratic formalities and fostering digital transformation, such as the creation of a digital wallet and the improvement of IT system interoperability.
[2] Amidst politics and general news related to the administrative simplification drive, it is significant to note that Philipp Amthor, the Parliamentary State Secretary, has taken a leading role in this reform, emphasizing the importance of fiscal discipline and transparency in politics.
