German Oversight Council Warns of Bureaucratic Collapse Without Reforms
The National Regulatory Control Council urges the next government to streamline laws, embrace digitalization, and overhaul administrative processes to prevent a crisis in public administration.
- The National Regulatory Control Council (NKR) warns that Germany's public administration risks collapse due to complex laws, staff shortages, and outdated processes.
- The council emphasizes the need for fundamental reforms, including simplified legislation and a shift away from rigid case-by-case regulations.
- The NKR highlights the importance of digitalization and modernized data management to reduce redundancies and improve administrative efficiency.
- The recently passed Bureaucracy Relief Act IV, effective January 2025, is expected to save €944 million annually through measures like reducing record-keeping requirements and eliminating hotel registration mandates for German guests.
- The council plans to present further recommendations for the next government, advocating for annual bureaucracy relief laws and a cultural shift in governance to prioritize practicality over exhaustive control.
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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 