© dpa
The planned administrative reform in Berlin has taken a step forward, according to the governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU).
The Senate discussed a paper with key points of the project, which is one of the most important of the black-red coalition, and was also in agreement on this, according to Wegner. This has now laid the foundation for drawing up a state organisation law.
Among other things, the draft bill is to contain regulations on the tasks and responsibilities of the state and district levels and is considered the centrepiece of the administrative reform. Wegner's aim is for the Senate to pass it by the end of the year so that it can be discussed further in the House of Representatives from the beginning of 2025 at the latest and finally passed.
The aim of the reform is to create a more efficient, faster and citizen-friendly administration. ‘We want Berlin to function better,’ said Wegner. Among other things, the often unclear and, for some, confusing responsibilities between districts and the state are to be regulated more clearly.
In future, the state level is to control the administration more on a city-wide basis. There should therefore be more clear and standardised instructions from the Senate to the districts as to what they should and should not do. At the same time, the districts should be strengthened and be able to launch their own initiatives at state level.