Opening of the "Reform Partnership": First Federal-State Meeting at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna

After the first meeting of the group for constitutional and administrative streamlining, State Secretary Alexander Pröll (ÖVP), who is primarily responsible for the area discussed on Monday, stated that the aim is to accelerate procedures through clear responsibilities and optimized processes. Additionally, there should be "more effective cooperation" between the federal government, states, municipalities, and communities. Another goal is the digitization of administration and the targeted use of artificial intelligence as a "lever for innovations," according to the State Secretary.

"Reform Partnership" aims to simplify major AVG procedures

The aim is to eliminate existing duplications in administration, streamline legal frameworks, and make the public service fit for the future, it was additionally stated in a press release. In addition to the group for constitutional and administrative streamlining, the reforms should also focus on the areas of health, education, and energy - this was already established at the announcement of the "Reform Partnership" at the beginning of June after the state governors' conference in Leogang.

The core topics of the initial meeting were a planned reform of the so-called major AVG procedure (an administrative matter involving more than 100 people in total, note). A draft law for the General Administrative Procedures Act (AVG) is to be introduced for this purpose. The goal is to simplify, accelerate, and debureaucratize approval procedures, according to government representatives at a press conference after the meeting.

The regulations for the major procedure will be revised to accelerate approval processes. In the future, procedures should also be announced digitally, said Pröll. Additionally, the threshold for entering the major procedure should be lower, and major procedures should be "better and more simply structured" than before. The State Secretary thanked the representatives of the states, the Association of Municipalities, and the Association of Cities after the meeting, "that we are moving forward together." The goal is to "quickly enter the review process" together with the AVG legislative amendment.

Federal-State Meeting plans digitization offensive

It was also decided at the kickoff to implement a "digitalization initiative." The ID Austria is to be expanded, and the use of artificial intelligence for automated process handling and relief for caseworkers is planned, according to a joint press statement. The roadmap for the constitutional and administrative cleanup group foresees further work phases in September. There will also be regular meetings involving external experts and "practice partners" from states and municipalities.

Participants from Federal, State, Municipal, and City Levels at Meeting in the Federal Chancellery in Vienna

On behalf of the federal government, in addition to Pröll, State Protection State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ) and Deregulation State Secretary Josef Schellhorn (NEOS) participated in the discussions on Monday. The states were represented by State Parliament President Brigitta Pallauf (Salzburg/ÖVP), State Parliament President Gerald Deutschmann (Styria/FPÖ), and City Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky (Vienna/SPÖ). Also present at the Chancellery were Municipal Association President Johannes Pressl and City Association Secretary General Thomas Weninger.

The start of the "reform partnership" was announced at the beginning of June by Salzburg's Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) after the Governors' Conference in Leogang. It was stated that they wanted to take 18 months to achieve a major administrative reform. Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) emphasized at the time that it was not only about change but also about improvement.

"Efficiency is citizen service," said Leichtfried after the meeting on Monday. In his area, he announced, among other things, the introduction of a central administrative penalty register. Schellhorn also expressed satisfaction, emphasizing the necessity of modernizing the state. The large-scale procedures are an example of this. "We now have a chance to deliver," he said - this includes a strong reduction in bureaucracy.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.