The German federal government has approved a new package of measures aimed at reducing bureaucratic hurdles for citizens and businesses. During a session of the so-called 'Relief Cabinet' on July 15, 2026, officials announced steps expected to provide approximately 600 million euros in annual relief. This latest move brings the total volume of administrative relief measures initiated since November 2025 to roughly 10.4 billion euros, according to Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger. The government’s broader economic agenda seeks to cut business bureaucracy costs by 25 percent, or about 16 billion euros, to help stimulate growth in Europe's largest economy.
Key changes in the new package include the digitalization of healthcare processes, such as the introduction of electronic doctor referrals, and the removal of requirements for electric vehicle owners to display environmental stickers in city centers. Additionally, the government plans to eliminate truck driving bans on certain regional holidays to improve logistics efficiency. These measures are part of a wider effort to modernize state administration and shift the burden of proof, requiring ministries to justify why specific regulations are necessary rather than forcing businesses to prove why they should be abolished.
Beyond these immediate changes, the government is working on broader structural reforms. These include setting stricter deadlines for public authorities, with some applications potentially receiving automatic approval if no decision is reached within four months. The administration is also moving to repeal outdated laws, such as the Higher Education Framework Act, to clean up the legal landscape. While these steps are intended to make the state more efficient, the government continues to evaluate feedback from its 'EinfachMachen' portal, where thousands of citizens and business owners have submitted suggestions for further simplification.