Ministry official encourages ministries to reduce bureaucratic obstacles

In a move aimed at modernizing state processes and streamlining administration, Germany's Digital Minister, Karsten Wildberger, has written to the ministers of the federal government, instructing them to submit concrete plans for bureaucracy reduction in their respective areas by September 15, 2025.

The plans, to be discussed in an October cabinet meeting focused on deregulation and debureaucratization, aim to reduce bureaucracy costs by around 16 billion euros (approximately 25% of the 65 billion euros of annual economic bureaucracy costs). The goals are to increase trust in government, improve public and business services, and streamline administration.

Some specific initiatives include simplifications for non-profits in data protection and tax law, protection enhancements for volunteers, and digital consultation procedures to increase transparency while reducing bureaucratic overhead.

The deadline for the ministers to present their plans was set for September 15th. The specialist department of Digital Minister Wildberger's ministry will contact the federal departments to inquire about the current status of "bureaucracy reduction projects".

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) appointed Wildberger, the former top manager of MediaMarktSaturn, to his cabinet. In his letter, sent on August 5th, Wildberger stated that Germany has been piling up bureaucratic concrete for decades and now needs to consistently tear it down. He emphasized that the state should trust citizens and businesses more and give them more responsibility.

The newly created Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization, led by Wildberger, is responsible for modernizing administration (online citizen services), reducing bureaucracy, data traffic, and improving networks. The letter was first reported by the "Bild" newspaper and is also available to the German Press Agency.

Wildberger ended his letter by expressing hope for good cooperation and thanking the ministers of the federal government in advance for their contribution by September 15th, 2025. In an October cabinet meeting, the focus will reportedly be on "deregulation and de-bureaucratization".