Saxony wants to get down to business when it comes to cutting red tape

The Saxon cabinet wants to reduce bureaucracy with a package of measures. The Free State of Saxony has now also reached the point "where you have to ask yourself the question: Is the state still capable of acting at all?" said Andreas Handschuh, Head of the State Chancellery. There are considerable obstacles to growth that are hampering the economy and municipal activities, but are also causing frustration among citizens.

Focus should be on practicality

"Our goal is also clear with regard to our future state budgets: focus on necessary tasks and structures," emphasized Handschuh. There is an urgent need for relief. A central element is the focus on practicability. Those affected should be involved at an early stage in all major legislative projects and amendments. When implementing EU law, the Free State wants to avoid special Saxon regulations without exception.

Number of funding approval bodies to be drastically reduced

Handschuh pointed out that there are more than 350 funding guidelines and 56 approval bodies in Saxony that issue funding and then check the proof of use. Their number is to be reduced to five approval offices.

The cabinet also commissioned a study for the public service at state level. The tasks and standards in the authorities of the Free State are to be scrutinized. The aim is to optimize administrative services and simplify processes so that tasks can continue to be carried out well in the future - even if fewer staff are available, it said.

Commission to clarify responsibilities of state and local authorities

In the opinion of Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU), the state is still capable of acting - albeit at great expense. He announced a reform commission. Its main task is to deal with the distribution of responsibilities between the state and local authorities.

"We want to noticeably reduce the burden on local authorities and at the same time strengthen individual responsibility at local level," said Schuster. He hopes that the commission, with its external perspective, will come up with "proposals that make people sit up and take notice". "Many people are talking about reducing bureaucracy, we want to take a decisive step forward."