Brandenburg: Catalogue for reducing bureaucracy

Associations and chambers are calling on the state government to take action: the effort and costs for companies should be significantly reduced.

This article is part of the special feature on bureaucratic madness in the skilled trades.

Businesses in Brandenburg have presented the state government with a detailed list of demands for an accelerated reduction of bureaucracy and relief for companies . This is intended to noticeably lower the effort and costs for businesses and finally speed up planning and approval processes.

Furthermore, the business community as a whole hopes for greater dynamism for Brandenburg as an investment location. The joint letter from the state's chambers of commerce and industry associations, containing concrete proposals for reducing bureaucracy, is addressed to Minister-President Dietmar Woidke personally. Representatives of Brandenburg's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) complain that new laws and regulations have created ever-increasing burdens for companies in recent years. The administration, too, is suffering from the growing density of regulations. Relief would therefore benefit both sides.

Efficiency and flexibility: Measures to reduce bureaucracy in Brandenburg

Among the proposals is a brake on new bureaucracy . For every additional burden caused by a new law, there needs to be a corresponding reduction in costs of twice the amount. With such a "one-in, two-out" rule, Brandenburg could become a pioneer in cutting red tape . A regulatory review board comprised of experts would ensure that new laws can be implemented with as little effort and cost as possible.

Furthermore, businesses in Brandenburg are proposing to expedite official approval processes . If an authority does not object to an application within a certain period, it should be considered approved. Public procurement law should also be made more SME-friendly , for example, by granting municipalities greater flexibility in awarding public contracts.

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Companies see the digitalization of public administration as a key lever for reducing bureaucratic costs . Contact between companies and authorities, and access to their services, must be entirely online . The business community points to the federal Online Access Act , according to which 575 processes should already have been digitalized . Brandenburg lags behind nationwide in the implementation of this law. The ELSTER-based organizational account must become the central communication tool between businesses and public administration.

Robert Wüst , President of the Brandenburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts , said: "Excessive bureaucracy is putting enormous pressure on skilled trades in Brandenburg. Craftspeople are spending more and more valuable time at their desks , time they could use more effectively in their workshops or on construction sites for their actual work . These burdens are impairing the competitiveness of our businesses, hindering innovation, and driving up costs for consumers as well. We have therefore long been calling for an urgent simplification of administrative processes and approval procedures, for example, for construction projects, a critical review of regulations and documentation requirements, and even their (temporary) suspension if they are out of touch with reality. We need a state policy that takes into account the specific needs and challenges of small and medium-sized craft businesses ."

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