A government advisory body is calling for enhanced oversight and clearer direction from the newly established Digital Ministry and the Chancellery to drive effective bureaucracy reduction efforts. The National Regulatory Control Council (NKR), an independent body advising the German government, released its annual report Thursday, emphasizing the need for ambition, courage and innovation from ministries tackling this issue.
The report follows a recent modernization agenda adopted by the government, outlining approximately 80 measures intended to boost efficiency, citizen engagement and digitalization within the state and administration.
Lutz Goebel, head of the NKR, noted a palpable frustration with burdensome bureaucracy and stated that this sentiment is prompting changes in policy. During the review period of July 2024 to June 2025, the NKR assessed over 300 draft laws and regulations. The report, while intended for the current administration, also provides an assessment of the performance of the previous government. Despite demonstrable efforts and improvements during the previous term, the report indicates that the long-term costs of legislation and the bureaucratic burden on businesses remain significantly high.
According to the NKR’s findings, annual bureaucratic costs for German businesses amount to roughly €64 billion. These expenses arise from corporate obligations such as compliance reporting, applications and data provision for government agencies. The NKR is advocating for legislation to be “digital-ready” facilitating greater efficiency and automation of processes. Furthermore, the report urges Berlin to adopt a more proactive stance on this issue within the European Union.
