The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) is calling for increased commitment from the federal government regarding the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles in the ongoing reform efforts. While DIHK CEO Helena Melnikov stated that the government is taking the right approach in terms of mindset, she noted that so far, the initiatives have largely consisted of declarations of intent and general principles. She added to the newspapers of Funke Media Group that businesses continue to deal with more bureaucracy than is being eliminated.
Melnikov acknowledged that the government’s decisions signal important moves toward cross-departmental modernization. “The direction is correct, but the road ahead is still very long,” she said.
The critical focus lies on the planned reporting relief law, provided it truly enacts a “genuine shift in the burden of proof” for existing mandates and acts as a “real brake” on new reporting requirements. She stressed that this law is long overdue, but currently only exists as a statement of intent. DIHK demands that ministries review all documentation obligations that exceed EU and constitutional requirements and abolish at least one in every four within twelve months. “We will measure the federal government against this promise and demand further steps,” Melnikov announced.
The DIHK head views the current measures as merely a first step. To achieve “real relief,” the federal government must drive the bureaucratic reduction process in a way that is “sustainable, cross-departmental, and clearly prioritized.” This mandate must apply to all ministries and government factions. Furthermore, Melnikov called on both the federal states and Brussels to participate actively, assuring that only then will the progress genuinely be felt by companies, public administration, and citizens.
