Significant advancements in state modernization are expected to be unveiled soon, according to Philipp Amthor, Parliamentary Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Technology. Speaking to RTL and ntv, Amthor emphasized the importance of these developments for the health and functionality of Germany’s democracy.
The focus, he stated, is on creating a more efficient, responsive and cost-effective government. This includes streamlining bureaucratic processes and identifying opportunities for savings. Discussions are ongoing with the federal states to achieve a unified approach, moving away from a patchwork of solutions towards a standardized, effective system.
A key commitment is to ensure digital accessibility and speed in interactions between citizens and government agencies. One central project is the development of a digital wallet, envisioned to provide citizens with easy access to documents such as personal identification and driver’s licenses.
Acknowledging the fragmented nature of current systems, with over 10,000 distinct software solutions utilized by government bodies, Amthor outlined a plan to establish a “data hub”. This hub would connect states and municipalities, facilitating communication between different software systems without requiring a complete overhaul of existing infrastructure.
The ultimate goal, he affirmed, is to improve the citizen experience by ensuring data is only required once and is then seamlessly shared between relevant agencies.
