The Minister of Digital Affairs issues a warning to the government against bureaucracy
The Minister of Digital Affairs in Berlin, Karsten Feldberger, announced a broad plan to dismantle the heavy bureaucracy in Germany, warning that decades of administrative inefficiency are stifling growth. Feldberger, the former head of the technology company MediaMarktSaturn, took office promising modernization and now wants to accelerate reforms and push the government towards a more flexible and digital structure.
Feldberger told Bild newspaper that Germany has built "bureaucratic concrete" over decades and it now needs to be dismantled. He emphasized that the state should place more trust in citizens and businesses instead of burdening them with endless regulations. His comments come after months of limited progress in reducing administrative red tape, despite widespread frustration among companies.
To drive the reforms, Fieldberger called his colleagues to a special meeting of the "Deregulation Council" after the summer break, where each ministry will be asked to justify its expenditures and present plans to reduce bureaucracy. He has already sent a message demanding that all ministries submit concrete proposals by September 15, warning that the government must be serious in addressing this issue. The state update will also be a key topic at the government retreat at the end of September.
The strategy sets ambitious goals: reducing bureaucratic costs by 25 percent, equivalent to about 16 billion euros. The Vildberger plan includes the "one in, two out" rule, meaning that for every new regulation introduced, two existing regulations must be removed elsewhere. It emphasizes that this approach will reduce excessive bureaucracy and encourage innovation and growth.
Feldberger told Bild newspaper: "Fewer laws, more freedom." He insisted that eliminating unnecessary regulations would not only stimulate the economy but also lead to social change. With expectations that the government will make final decisions in October, the minister emphasized that real transformation requires courage, perseverance, and strong political will—something he pledged to provide with all his energy.