(de-news.net) – Municipalities across Germany have aligned themselves with efforts to accelerate public administration by endorsing the Christian Democratic Union’s proposal to introduce automatic approvals for uncomplicated administrative procedures. According to media reports, the chief executive of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities emphasized that guaranteeing approvals within a three-month period—provided that applications are complete and formally correct—would significantly streamline administrative decision-making. Such a mechanism, he argued, would not only reduce processing times but also improve the overall quality of public service delivery for both private citizens and businesses. In this context, he highlighted areas such as gastronomy licensing as well as minor construction or renovation projects as particularly suitable for automatic approval, stressing that a noticeable increase in administrative speed is essential if Germany is to enhance efficiency, predictability, and institutional responsiveness.
The proposal forms part of the Christian Democratic Union’s so-called “Mainz Declaration,” which was adopted at a party leadership retreat on Monday and is intended to combine economic stimulus with a systematic reduction in bureaucratic complexity. Under the framework outlined in the declaration, an application would be deemed approved by operation of law if the competent authority fails to issue a contrary decision within three months of submission. This approach is designed to introduce greater legal certainty and planning reliability for applicants, while simultaneously placing clearer time constraints on administrative action.
Municipal representatives have nonetheless indicated that the proposal does not go far enough in addressing the structural pressures facing local administrations. From their perspective, a more comprehensive reduction of administrative burdens is required, with the federal and state governments expected to assume a leading role in creating the necessary conditions for relief at the local level.
Against this backdrop, the association has renewed its criticism of regulatory “gold-plating,” calling for EU-derived rules as well as national laws and regulations to be implemented without additional requirements imposed by federal or state authorities. Such restraint, it argued, would simplify enforcement for municipalities and create a more conducive environment for the broader deployment of digital administrative solutions, thereby strengthening local governments’ capacity to manage their responsibilities more efficiently.
