Lutz Goebel, the chairman of the National Norm Control Council (NKR), has delivered a sharply critical assessment of the Building Modernization Act (GMG), which was recently adopted by the cabinet. Speaking to the “Bild” newspaper, Goebel stated that the draft law represents one of the most poorly executed and detached projects presented to the NKR in recent years.
According to Goebel, the draft legislation is “in large parts barely comprehensible, unnecessarily complicated, and often inexplicable for those affected”. He noted that even specialized professional associations, which have spent significant time researching the topic, flagged issues related to implementation problems and a lack of practical applicability. Such legislation, Goebel argued, only contributes to the growing frustration many citizens feel towards political and governmental institutions. The act serves as a prime example of why many people no longer understand the state’s regulations.
The NKR estimates that the law will introduce additional bureaucratic and consulting costs. For instance, the specific requirements regarding the allocation of secondary costs when installing fossil heating systems are so arduous for many property owners that they can only be managed with the aid of external consultation. Goebel criticized the Ministry for only presenting an incomplete picture of these burdens.
Consequently, he demanded that the Bundestag revise the law. He argued that any politician who promises to reduce bureaucracy should not submit laws that generate new uncertainties, new requirements for proof, and increased complexity. He urged that the proposals from interest groups be subjected to a comprehensive review and that the entire draft be re-worked during the parliamentary process.
