Reform paper on state modernisation presented to the Federal President
Steinmeier praises the initiative’s commitment to improving public administration and advancing further reforms. The aim: to make the state “better, faster, and more citizen-oriented”.
Berlin (dpa) – The “Initiative for an Effective State” has presented its final report to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who acted as its patron. Bringing together a wide range of experts and stakeholders, the initiative was launched last year by publisher and business leader Julia Jäkel, former President of the Federal Constitutional Court Andreas Voßkuhle, former Federal Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière, and former Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück. Federal President Steinmeier said: “Our democracy becomes stronger and more resilient when we make our state better, faster and more responsive to its citizens.”
At the presentation of the report, de Maizière explained that most of the proposed changes do not concern individual citizens directly: “Instead we are asking the decision-makers and the administrations themselves to make most of the changes.”
The initiative’s recommendations include the introduction of experimental clauses in legislation and provisions allowing administrative authorities to deviate from certain regulations for a limited period. The effort required to implement and comply with legal requirements is to be significantly reduced – including a major cut in documentation and record-keeping obligations for businesses and citizens. The initiative welcomed the fact that many of the recommendations it had previously put forward in an interim report were included in the current government’s coalition agreement