As of: March 13, 2024, 4:39 p.m
Comments
Press
Split
File folders on the shelf: Excessive bureaucracy is putting a lot of strain on German companies.
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
The complicated German bureaucracy is considered one of the biggest brakes on the German economy.
The federal government has now announced long-awaited measures to reduce it.
Berlin - The federal government has decided on further measures to reduce bureaucracy.
Among other things, there will be no need to fill out registration forms in hotels, at least for German citizens.
In addition, the retention periods in accounting are shortened.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said that the burden of bureaucracy was falling to its lowest level since 2012. However, leading representatives of the traffic light coalition emphasized that further steps must follow.
Some businesses reacted angrily and spoke of a missed opportunity to do significantly more.
The cabinet approved the relevant draft law on Wednesday.
The relief volume for the economy is estimated at a good 944 million euros per year.
That is over 260 million euros more than initially planned.
“The bureaucracy cost index has fallen to an all-time low,” said FDP politician Buschmann.
It has been collected since 2012 and measures the burden on companies due to information obligations.
Further steps would have to follow.
“Because cutting bureaucracy is an economic stimulus program at no cost.”
Traffic light aims to reduce bureaucracy
The leaders of the traffic light government made similar statements.
“This is a project with a far-reaching impact,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD).
“But this can only be the beginning of the dismantling,” said Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner.
Above all, it must be about avoiding additional bureaucracy, which is why the FDP prevented an EU-wide supply chain law.
Bureaucracy always means a lack of time in companies to deal with the actual product.
“It’s a waste of productivity.”
The largest part of the package, with around two thirds of the relief, is that accounting documents - copies of invoices, bank statements and payrolls - only have to be kept for eight years instead of ten.
Operating cost statements should also be digitized.
Travelers should have the option of presenting their passports digitally during flight clearance.
Public auctions should also be possible online.
The lead Ministry of Justice expects a tax loss of 200 million euros, of which 89 million will go to the federal government.
Together with other measures from the traffic light government made up of the SPD, Greens and FDP, the total relief volume for companies should be around five billion euros per year.
Chemical industry calls for “clearing out”
Particularly harsh criticism came from the chemical association VCI.
This is not even remotely the necessary relief.
A more radical approach is necessary and a change of mentality in legislation.
“We have to clear out.
A little spring cleaning isn't enough," says VCI Managing Director Wolfgang Große Entrup.
“The federal government is missing out on the bureaucratic liberation,” criticized the industry association BDI.
The current package falls far short of expectations.
More practical checks are needed in the ministries.
In addition, the culture of mistrust towards the economy must give way.
The wholesale association BGA called for the German supply chain law, which makes companies responsible for deficiencies in their supply chains, to be abolished or at least significantly slimmed down.
From an economic perspective, companies are faced with a lot of information obligations that are difficult to fulfill.
Business associations demand “courage” from the Bundestag
Julia Klöckner, economic policy spokeswoman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, referred to the traffic light heating law, which causes a lot of bureaucracy.
The economy has made a total of more than 400 concrete suggestions for improvements to the current reduction package.
“Only eleven of them were adopted.” At the same time, the traffic light is not very ambitious in its plan to make administration more digital.
“The federal government's administrative procedures will only be offered fully digitally in 2029, which is not worthy of a modern industrialized country.” That's why the digital association Bitkom also spoke of triple steps.
The requirement to use paper and a manual signature continues to be a major obstacle.
In addition, existing data and information would have to be networked in different registers.
My news
“Mega pension increase” for pensioners in 2024: expert predicts good prospects
2 hours ago
Verdi is also calling on air security personnel to carry out warning strikes on Friday
Quick change in the basic pension?
Supplements should “not be a pittance” for all pensioners
“Most burdened”: A group has to really read the metal for the traffic light’s new pension package
New rail strike from Tuesday: What does GDL boss Claus Weselsky actually earn? read
Guide: This is how much pocket money makes sense for children read
The craft association ZDH and the automobile lobby VDA called on the Bundestag to show courage when deliberating on the draft law.
Further relief measures should be added.
(Reuters, lf)