The upcoming meeting of state premiers in Berlin is poised to become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over bureaucratic streamlining and modernization, with Rhineland-Palatinate’s Premier Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) publicly urging Chancellor Merz and his federal government to commit to concrete financial support. Schweitzer, chairing the conference, has indicated that a significant reform package could be agreed upon as early as December 4th, but only if accompanied by firm budgetary assurances.
A central demand from state governments and municipalities revolves around the principle of “He who orders must pay”. This refers to a longstanding grievance where the federal government delegates responsibilities to states and local authorities without adequately covering the associated costs. Schweitzer emphasized the crucial need for a universally applicable mechanism to compensate for existing financial burdens on municipalities and states, preventing the repeated need for renegotiation. He highlighted the validity of the municipal argument – a justifiable insistence on federal accountability for actions that trigger municipal expenditure.
Beyond financial commitments, a core element of the reform agenda is a comprehensive overhaul of the federal government’s cost estimation processes. State premiers across Germany are united in their critique of existing estimations, which they argue have consistently underestimated the financial impact of federal legislation. The Bundesteilhabegesetz (Federal Inclusion Law), designed to enhance the autonomy of individuals with disabilities, was specifically cited as a prime example of a law whose projected costs were demonstrably too low. To rectify this, Schweitzer proposed a collaborative process engaging the federal government, state governments and municipal associations in the creation of future cost assessments.
Schweitzer further positioned bureaucratic reduction as a vital instrument for strengthening the social state. His argument subtly challenged the prevalent narrative of social welfare cuts, suggesting instead that the focus should be on reducing the bureaucratic machinery that supports it. He pointed to the escalating administrative burden, marked by overly complex regulations, overlapping jurisdictions and a multiplicity of stakeholders. These factors, he argues, create undue expenditure, foster ineffective overlaps and open avenues for abuse. The premier advocated for a shift towards more standardized regulations, reduced reliance on individualized assessments and the consolidation of administrative functions into “one-stop” structures.
The timing of the conference – held against a backdrop of a pre-conference session convened by North Rhine-Westphalia focusing on bureaucracy reduction – signals the urgency of the situation. Whether Chancellor Merz’s government will meet the states’ demands for financial commitment and procedural reform remains to be seen, but the stage is set for a contentious and potentially transformative political showdown.