Focus on bigger picture, halt preoccupation with minor aspects - National administration should take action - Minister Advocates for Action Beyond Limited Actions - Call for Federation's Active Involvement
Turning away from petty matters, Rhineland-Palatinate's Digital Affairs Minister Dörte Schall (SPD) urges the federal government to make a leap forward, shaping a single, simplified digital landscape for German administrations. "The focus should be on shared strategies," Schall stated, chatting with the German Press Agency in Mainz. "We can't keep treading water with the trivialities."
To speed things up, Schall implores the federal government to put forth a centrally managed platform for services such as car registration and facilitating onlinetransaction—a move that would bring much-needed relief for both citizens and bureaucrats. Current municipalities' approaches to digitalization vary widely, indicating the urgent need for a coordinated approach. "It's like a patchwork quilt," Schall expressed.
Streamlining the Chaos
A central, nationwide, adaptable software solution would be a game-changer, according to Schall, ahead of the upcoming Digital Ministers' Conference in Ingelheim, where the new Federal Minister of Digital Affairs, Karsten Wildberger, will participate. In the social administration domain, cross-border digitalization would be even more impactful, as its lack of interfaces leads to inefficiencies. "We've been talking about improvements for long enough. Now it's time to cut through the red tape," Schall emphasized.
The Agenda
With delegates from all federal states joining the Digital Ministers' Conference, discussions revolve around three major topics:
- Amplifying digital infrastructure, aiming for comprehensive mobile and broadband coverage, and deploying fiber-optic connections.
- Implementing artificial intelligence in administration and guarding citizens from AI misuse.
- Addressing European digital sovereignty and strategizing ways for Europe and Germany to set themselves apart from the US and Chinese markets.
By focusing on these key areas, Germany can make significant strides in modernizing its system, aligning with Schall's vision for a more efficient digital administration.
To reach this goal, some possible strategies to consider include:
A Leaner, Modernized System
- Standardization and Centralization
- Centralized digital identities and universal citizen accounts for seamless interactions across government levels.
- Consistent administrative processes at every level, minimizing complexity.
- Digital Transformation of Administrative Procedures
- Leveraging AI for automation and speeding up administrative duties, eliminating needless documentation.
- Utilizing a dedicated Federal Ministry to spearhead and co-ordinate digital reforms.
- Improved Digital Infrastructure
- Investing in broadband and fiber-optic expansion for reliable, fast internet access nationwide.
- Enhancing cybersecurity measures to protect digital services and citizen data.
- Implementing Digital Tools and Services
- Digital identity wallet for secure authentication across government services.
- Digital justice portals for simplified legal proceedings, such as the proposed "Justice Portal."
- Digital workforce management tools, like digital time-tracking systems, streamlining employment processes.
- Regulatory Framework
- Adopting EU digital legislation consistently, fostering a favorable legal environment for digitalization.
- Simplifying labour laws and administrative processes through acts like the Fourth Bureaucracy Reduction Act (BEG IV).
These strategies can help Germany construct a more fluid and efficient digital administration ecosystem in line with Schall's digitalization vision. 🇩🇪💻🗓️🇪🇺
- In her vision for streamlined digital administration, Schall advocates for the implementation of technology in vocational training programs across EC countries, aiming to equip bureaucrats with the necessary skills to manage the modernized system.
- A key aspect of Schall's plan forpolicy-and-legislation involves addressing the issue of EU digital sovereignty, as part of the discussions at the Digital Ministers' Conference, with the aim of setting Europe and Germany apart in the global digital market.
