Reducing bureaucracy: ZDH welcomes proposals from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group

The CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag is calling on the federal government to "finally switch to action mode" when it comes to reducing bureaucracy and is putting forward 22 concrete proposals. The skilled trades sector agrees and also calls for more speed.

This article is part of the special topic Bureaucratic madness in the craft industry

The Bundestag faction of the CDU and CSU sees the Federal government in matters reducing bureaucracy tread water and is now making its own proposal for a relief package. "The traffic light coalition has comprehensive bureaucracy reduction and a new bureaucracy reduction law promised. But so far there is not even key points to a new bureaucracy reduction law. Instead, with each new traffic light law, new regulatory requirements", says Julia Klockner, economic policy spokesperson for the parliamentary group.

That is why the group has now submitted a motion with 22 concrete proposals to reduce unnecessary and burdensome bureaucracy in the Bundestag "Excessive documentation, reporting and retention requirements, long processing times and enforcement problems in authorities slow down our economy – from the self-employed to small and medium-sized businesses and large companies. costs unnecessary money, time, nerves and personnel", said Klöckner. If done correctly, reducing bureaucracy is a free economic stimulus package.

Systematically test practical suitability

Motion by the CDU/CSU parliamentary groupHere you will find the full motion of the Union parliamentary group."In this decade, we must ensure that the economy concentrate more on their core business, implement new ideas and secure jobs. Communication with authorities and filling out forms allowed do not take over", the motion states. Especially in times of crisis, reducing bureaucracy can contribute to new economic growth and for more climate protection The existing legal framework must be rethought across all sectors from a company perspective, systematically adapted to its practicality be reviewed and adjusted.

The Union parliamentary group divides its proposals into six areas: general reduction of bureaucracy, measures in the area of Tax and commercial law, measures in the area of Labor and social law, measures in the area of general economic policy, adjustments in Data Protection Law and measures of the Administrative digitization as well as measures in the area of ​​general Acceleration of administrative procedures.

These are the proposals of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group:

1. General reduction of bureaucracy
   - Extend the "one in, one out" rule to a "one in, two out" rule,
   - introduce a "burden inspection" that examines all burdens on companies and employees caused by laws and other regulations at European and national level and takes appropriate remedial measures,
   - Introduce a bureaucratic brake on the recruitment of new employees in the federal administration.
2. Measures in the area of ​​tax and commercial law
   - significantly shorten retention periods for documents,
   - Raise the turnover limit for actual taxation in the VAT Act from 600.000 to 1,5 million euros,
   - Increase the thresholds for submitting advance VAT returns from EUR 1.000 to EUR 1.500 (quarterly return) and from EUR 7.500 to EUR 9.000 (monthly return).
3. Measures in the area of ​​labour and social law
   - Implement the new regulations on working time recording in a non-bureaucratic manner and continue to enable trust-based working time models, without creating any additional burdens for employers and employees,
   - Raise the mini-job limit from 520 to 600 euros and link it to general wage developments,
   - exempt short business trips abroad throughout Europe from the obligation to apply for an A1 certificate,
   - apply the "one-stop shop" principle in practice when providing rehabilitation and participation services for people with disabilities.
4. Measures from the area of ​​general economic policy
   - Accelerate company successions, establish a public-law universal succession,
   - largely free founders from bureaucratic regulations in the first two years after founding a company,
   - create opportunities for experimentation in laws,
   - add a “mid-cap” category to the European Commission’s definition of SMEs.
5. Adjustments to data protection law and measures for administrative digitalization
   - to give companies with locations in several federal states the opportunity to apply data protection law uniformly by giving them the right to choose which of the state data protection officers at their locations is uniformly responsible for all establishments,
   - Raise the threshold for appointing a company data protection officer from 20 to at least 50 employees,
   - swiftly implement the objectives of the Online Access Act to enable fully digitalised administrative procedures,
   - ensure a nationwide solution for the digital company account,
   - Consistently implement the "once-only principle" based on the Register Modernisation Act introduced in the last legislative period,
   - reduce company-relevant statistical obligations, data collection and reporting.
6. Measures in the area of ​​general acceleration of administrative procedures
   - review all business-relevant processes and administrative procedures at administrative authorities in consultation with the companies,
   - Significantly accelerate planning and approval processes through further process concentration.

"Relief law must finally come"

The craft sector, like the Union faction, sees urgent need for action in reducing bureaucracy: "The proposal of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group shows how easy it is to reduce bureaucracy. Concrete proposals and relief measures that have been available for a long time, especially those put forward by the trades, must simply be implemented," demands Holger Schwannecke, Secretary General of the Central Association of German Crafts.

What has happened so far in this legislative period little to nothing. From the perspective of craft businesses, whose creativity and innovation are hampered by the bureaucratic grind, no longer acceptable. Schwannecke: "The federal government is wasting valuable time with unnecessary association surveys. There is a clear need more courage and drive. The already promised in the coalition agreement Bureaucracy Reduction Act must finally come. And it must be a law that truly deserves its name."

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