Saxony Calls for Less EU Bureaucracy and More Say

Saxony is calling for less bureaucracy and more say in EU decision-making. That is the conclusion of a policy statement delivered by State Chancellery Chief Andreas Handschuh (independent) in the state parliament. “Only through personal responsibility and self-determination can Europe become a tangible reality for people and regain their trust. Europe grows in the regions, not through central directives from Brussels.” The Committee of the Regions must become Saxony’s lever for personal responsibility in Brussels.

Lack of acceptance of the EU among Saxon citizens

Handschuh pointed to a lack of acceptance of the EU among the Saxon population. According to the latest “Sachsen-Monitor” opinion poll, not even one in four Saxons trusts the European Parliament and the European Commission. “Three out of four Saxons have little to no trust. Why is it that the benefits of the European Union do not outweigh these concerns, and skepticism continues to rise?” This is where the state government’s new European policy strategy comes in.

Saxony calls for greater regional involvement in decision-making

“If the regions bear the consequences of European legislation and bureaucracy, they must also be involved in their development,” said Handschuh. The Committee of the Regions must be involved even before or during the drafting of a legislative proposal by the Commission. We need less centralization in Brussels and more subsidiarity for the regions.

Criticism of excessive bureaucracy

Handschuh criticized the “excessive regulations” in the EU. “In 2025 alone, the EU introduced over 1,400 new legislative acts. That works out to 4 new regulations per day and over 100 per month.” The sheer number is one thing, he said; the scope and complexity of the individual rules are another. Everyone in Parliament knows at least one citizen, head of a public institution, tradesperson, master craftsman, or entrepreneur who no longer wants to put up with this regulatory overgrowth.

Criticism of Proposals for Reorienting Funding

Handschuh also viewed the EU’s considerations regarding the reorientation of the multiannual financial framework with skepticism. Since 1991, more than 20 billion euros have flowed from Brussels to Saxony and have been wisely invested here. In the future, it should be solely up to the EU member state to decide whether and how the regions are involved. Saxony faces the threat of having its EU funding cut in half to around two billion euros. “We will not accept that.” In the current funding period, the figure was 3.8 billion.

Advocating for a Strong EU

At the same time, Handschuh advocated for a strong EU. “Anyone who wants to reduce Europe to a mere alliance of national interests fails to recognize what makes our Union strong: universally applicable civil liberties and rules, reliable partnerships, and the ability to act together even in areas where individual states can achieve little on their own.” Those who seek to weaken Europe do not make Germany stronger. “Saxony needs Europe, and Europe needs Saxony’s strengths.”