Modernization agenda: Federal and state governments present progress report

At the end of 2025, the federal and state governments agreed on a package of measures to modernize the state. A first progress report has now been published. So far, the focus has been primarily on digitalization measures for citizens. However, according to the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH), relief measures relevant to the skilled trades are only being implemented slowly.

At the Conference of Minister-Presidents (MPK) in the Federal Chancellery in Berlin last December, the federal and state governments agreed on a package of measures for modernizing the state, the so-called Modernization Agenda. This focused particularly on bureaucracy, efficient procedures and digital processes, and the modernization of the state itself. One resolution of the MPK was to review all reporting and documentation requirements this year. At least one-third of the reporting requirements and half of the documentation requirements were to be eliminated.

Modernization agendaRead more about the modernization agenda of the federal and state governments here:
MPK adopts federal modernization agendaThe federal and state governments have now presented an initial progress report on the agenda. "Nearly all of the more than 200 agreed-upon measures have been assigned an ambitious target date. Many of the improvements are to be implemented by the end of 2026," the report states. The reduction of written form requirements in communication with authorities, the automatic child benefit, the digital wallet, the Infrastructure Future Act, the faster expansion of fiber optic and mobile networks, and the acceleration of permitting processes for new construction are cited by the federal and state governments as successful examples.

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The German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) is calling for faster progress, particularly regarding the reduction of information and documentation requirements. The report, they argue, largely consists of new announcements that are far less ambitious than those in last year's MPK resolution on the modernization agenda. The association demands the implementation of concrete measures that address small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the skilled trades. The relief cabinet will meet again on July 15. The federal and state governments have pledged to maintain their high level of ambition. "Implementation will continue to be pursued vigorously."

Progress Report Here you will find the " First Progress Report on the Federal Modernisation Agenda ".

DHB now also available digitally! Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!