Germany’s Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger is calling for a focused cabinet meeting following the summer recess, aimed at significantly reducing bureaucratic costs across all government departments. In an interview, Wildberger stated that decades of accumulated bureaucracy need to be systematically dismantled, emphasizing the need for greater trust in citizens and businesses.
State modernization will also be a central theme during a government retreat scheduled for the end of September, where Wildberger intends to present a modernization agenda outlining proposals for comprehensive state reform.
A letter has been circulated to all ministries requesting concrete plans for reducing red tape, with a deadline of September 15th. The communication underscores the seriousness of the initiative, stating that officials from the Digital Ministry will be contacting each department to assess the current status of their deregulation efforts.
Wildberger’s goal is to reduce Germany’s bureaucratic costs by 16 billion euros – a reduction of approximately one quarter. A ministry strategy paper characterizes this as requiring the elimination of “major bureaucratic obstacles” rather than incremental adjustments.
To further facilitate this reduction, a “one-in, two-out” rule is being proposed, mandating that any new regulatory burden be offset by the removal of two existing ones.
Wildberger believes that reducing regulation and increasing individual and business autonomy will not only stimulate economic growth but also foster broader societal progress. He affirms his commitment to providing the necessary leadership, courage and perseverance to achieve lasting change and secure the political will required for success.