For Kai Wegner, the modernisation of the state and digitalisation are crucial steps towards restoring people’s trust in democracy, political parties and institutions. “A modern digital administration is the order of the day and the yardstick by which we must be measured,” said Berlin’s outgoing Governing Mayor in his keynote speech at the opening of the second day of the trade fair, in which he also took stock of his commitment to a data-driven, digital and citizen-centred administration.

“People need to feel that it works. We have set many things in motion in Berlin and, after 25 years of discussion, have finally achieved a genuine administrative reform that clearly defines tasks and responsibilities,” said Wegner. Berlin is now the only federal state in Germany to have a comprehensive catalogue of tasks for the state and district levels.

“We have sorted through and overhauled 4,500 administrative tasks carried out for Berliners and businesses, checking for duplicate, triple and quadruple responsibilities; in the end, there were only 2,200 left.” In the next step, according to the Governing Mayor, they will examine which of these are still relevant today and are genuinely needed.

Easy appointments at the Citizens’ Office

Another important step, he said, was the reform of the public procurement structure, involving a fundamental reorganisation of the procurement system. “Together with the Federal Ministry for Digital and Communications, Berlin has developed a digital marketplace for legally compliant, transparent and straightforward public procurement as a pilot project. I am proud of that,” said Wegner.

For Berliners, the most noticeable change has been at the Citizens’ Offices. “For 15 years, people waited weeks and months for appointments. Today, they can usually get an appointment on the same day, or the next at the latest.” Moreover, more than 460 services are now available online and can be completed without having to visit the office at all.

Without ideological blinders

Wegner believes two points are crucial for driving digitalisation forward: “I am firmly convinced that the federal states must cede powers and responsibilities to the federal government.” Only in this way can measures be implemented efficiently and uniformly across Germany, rather than in 16 different versions.

The Governing Mayor sees another necessary change in the area of data protection. “No one wants all their data floating about for anyone to access. But if data protection halts further digital development, then it is not a protective mechanism, but an obstacle.” The issue must be tackled without ideological blinders – for the sake of competitiveness and a functioning state that people trust.