04 Dez. VATM press statement on the planned adoption of the Federal Modernisation Agenda
Berlin, 4 December 2025. Commenting on today’s Minister-Presidents‘ Conference in Berlin and the planned adoption of the Federal Modernisation Agenda, VATM Managing Director Dr. Frederic Ufer states:
“The federal modernisation agenda of the federal and state governments is an important step towards a more modern state, but its success will depend on effective implementation. Reducing bureaucracy, simplified reporting obligations, faster procedures, the once-only principle – these are the levers for a strong business location. The federal states have recognised this, but many different solutions from state to state are not creating the relief that companies are urgently waiting for.
In view of the overriding public interest, we perceive that this innovation is not yet known and is not applied in the area. We welcome the commitment of individual federal states, but fear that there will be a proliferation of different interpretations of the indeterminate legal term. This example shows how urgent standardised, nationwide harmonised legal regulations and handouts are.
Other European countries took this path a long time ago. In Germany, internationally active companies are facing significant challenges due to customer protection and reporting obligations, some of which are applied multiple times due to unclear terminology. In addition, there is strong growth in the reporting system, for example in the ESG area. This is better in our neighboring countries. Digital platforms, networked authorities and a true once-only principle mean that data only must be delivered once and is then available to all authorised bodies.
We urgently need to catch up on this in Germany. The federal and state governments are on the right track with their modernisation agenda. They must now swiftly introduce legally secure regulations and design standardised digital procedures throughout Germany. The modernisation agenda will only live up to its claim if companies ultimately experience faster, more predictable procedures and less bureaucracy. We will support the implementation of these changes cooperatively.”
