Reducing bureaucracy: Von der Leyen signals relief

Reducing bureaucracy: Von der Leyen signals relief

After a meeting with the German employers' association BDA, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signaled that she is open to a significant reduction in bureaucracy. She stressed the need for external experts to critically review legislation in Brussels and identify areas where bureaucracy can be reduced. In the last two years, administrative costs amounting to 13.6 billion euros have already been reduced by applying the principle of abolishing an old regulation for every new regulation. In addition, the reporting requirement for companies is to be reduced by around a quarter, which has already led to cost savings of around four billion euros.

The German economy regularly complains about too many regulations, with Finance Minister and FDP leader Christian Lindner von der Leyen in particular holding himself personally responsible for the large number of new regulations. BDA President Rainer Dulger calls on the European Union to take a faster, simpler and more digital approach to create a competitive Europe. Von der Leyen, on the other hand, emphasizes that competitiveness and sustainability must be pursued in parallel and that a better integrated capital market in the EU could potentially generate up to 500 billion euros in additional investments per year. A further reduction in energy prices should also be sought.

Von der Leyen is particularly confident with regard to her top candidacy in the 2024 European elections. As the top candidate of the EVP party family, she can count on the support of German voters. The need to effectively reduce bureaucracy while promoting competitiveness and sustainability are key issues for Von der Leyen and her political agenda for the future of the European Union.