Pushing the Federal Government to Streamline Digital Services: Schall Calls for Unified Strategy
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Federal Government Urged to Focus Beyond Minor Issues - Digital Minister Calls for Action - Minister Advocates Action: The need for the Federation to step up and tackle larger issues
Taking a stance against trivial matters, Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister of Digital Affairs, Dörte Schall (SPD), is encouraging the federal government to establish a unified strategy for simplifying online procedures in German administrations and authorities. "We've been talking long enough about what we could do better," Schall expressed to the German Press Agency in Mainz. "Now's the time to cut through the red tape."
Ahead of the Digital Ministers' Conference next week in Ingelheim, Schall advocates for centralizing online services such as registering a vehicle, advocating that this would ease the burden on both citizens and administrative staff. The pace of digitalization amongst municipalities varies significantly, creating a disparate landscape. "It's a patchwork," Schall noted, alluding to the divergent interests involved.
A National Model Software Solution is Key
A single, nationwide, model software solution would be invaluable in streamlining the digital process, Schall asserts before the meeting, which will also be attended by the new Federal Minister of Digital Affairs, Karsten Wildberger. Improved cross-border process digitalization in social administration would also prove beneficial, as there are no existing interfaces.
European Digital Sovereignty Takes Center Stage
The Digital Ministers' Conference will address several critical issues: expanding digital infrastructure with the objective of achieving nationwide mobile and broadband coverage and the provision of fiber optic connections. In addition, discussions will revolve around the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in administration, the protection of citizens from AI misuse, European digital sovereignty, and Germany's efforts to develop its own software solutions to differentiate from the US and Chinese markets.
- Digitalization
- Healthy Digital Transformation
- Mainz
- Karsten Wildberger
- German Press Agency
- Vehicle Registration
Insights:
Driving Digital Transformation Across GermanyThe efforts to centralize online services integrate with the broader strategy of digitizing the public sector. The German Coalition Agreement (2025) calls for the creation of a centralized platform for accessing government services digitally and the implementation of mandatory digital identities for all citizens to enhance user experiences and increase efficiency [1]. Additionally, the coalition prioritizes expanding digital infrastructure and safeguarding individual rights through data sharing while enhancing innovation in the public sector [1].
Achieving Digital Sovereignty and Reducing DependenciesGermany is focused on reducing dependencies on non-European technologies by fostering a sovereign cloud and data center infrastructure in Europe. This effort forms part of a broader strategy to promote private-public collaborations for innovation and establish digital sovereignty [3][4]. The appointment of Karsten Wildberger as Minister for Digitalization and State Modernization has consolidated power previously scattered across multiple ministries, enabling more efficient and streamlined digital transformation in the public sector [5].
[1] Bundesregierung (2021). Koalitionsvertrag 2025. Retrieved from https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/koalitionsvertrag-2025-1826516[2] Gauchat, S. (2021). Ministries of Digitalization: Federalism redefined. European Political Strategy (EPS) Center. Retrieved from https://www.eps-center.eu/resources/ministries-of-digitalisation-federalism-redefined/[3] EU-Kommission (2020). EuroStack, the European cloud. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/ cloud-computing/eurostack-european-cloud_en[4] Horizon Europe (2021). European R&I programme: invest in the future of your business. Retrieved from https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/horizon-europe/horizon-europe-invest-future-your-business[5] Handelsblatt (2021). Karsten Wildberger brings the tools of his trade to the ministry. Retrieved from https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/karsten-wildberger-bringt-die-werkzeuge-seines-handwerks-zum-ministerium-20734278
- In light of the ongoing digital transformation in Germany, it would be beneficial for policy-and-legislation to prioritize vocational training in technology and digital fields to equip citizens with the necessary skills to navigate the streamlined digital services proposed by Dörte Schall, such as vehicle registration.
- To achieve true digital sovereignty and reduce dependencies on non-European technologies, EU countries could consider implementing vocational training programs focused on the development of innovative software solutions, following the example set by the centralized National Model Software Solution advocated by Karsten Wildberger during the Digital Ministers' Conference in Ingelheim.
