Federal states also support “digital only” - but Rhineland-Palatinate warns
The federal government wants to put an end to paper applications. Now the federal states have also committed to "digital only" – with one exception.
Rhineland-Palatinate Minister Dörte Schall (SPD) is the current chairwoman of the conference of state digital ministers. The new Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger attended the latest meeting as a guest.
(Image: MASTD RLP / Dinges)
Away with paper applications: In its coalition agreement, the new German government has proclaimed “Digital Only” as a goal for the administration. Most of the federal states have now followed suit: They want to establish the digital-only principle as a “guideline and structural element of public administration at federal, state and local level”, according to a recent resolution by the conference of state digital ministers.
The resolution (PDF) goes on to say that they will work to ensure that the necessary regulations are created at state level to implement the principle. The federal government should also adapt its legislation accordingly. The prerequisite is “secure, efficient, user-friendly and barrier-free electronic administrative services”. For people who cannot or do not want to go digital, there must be support options “on site”.
Resistance only in the southwest
Rhineland-Palatinate was the only federal state to issue a protocol declaration on the resolution. In it, the state warns of a “digital divide in society” if people with disabilities, older people and other groups are disadvantaged. However, Rhineland-Palatinate also warns of higher costs as a result of Digital Only: “The financial impact on the administration is not yet fully known,” according to the protocol declaration.
In response to a query from c't, the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Digitalization explained that a switch to Digital Only could require higher investments in new systems. Other factors include operating expenses and staff training. Therefore, a “digital first” principle is advocated as the first step in the direction of “digital only”.
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Even before the coalition negotiations at the federal level, the D21 initiative, among others, had already spoken out in favor of Digital Only. Denmark switched its administration to exclusively digital communication a decade ago; exceptions must be applied for. The Digitalcourage association and other civil society organizations are critical of a “digital compulsion” for citizens.
(cwo)
