Berlin’s Administrative Reform: Progress Made, More Steps Ahead
Berlin, February 7 – Berlin’s extensive administrative reform is moving forward, with key legislative changes already implemented. The state organization law, crucial for the reform, came into effect at the beginning of the year. Concurrently, the corresponding amendments to the state constitution are now also valid. These changes constitutionally obligate Senate administrations to involve districts early in relevant projects and streamline the process for issuing administrative regulations, as confirmed by the Senate Chancellery upon inquiry from dpa.
Despite these advancements, the Senate Chancellery acknowledges that much work remains. “The numerous new rules and instruments must now be integrated into the daily operations of the Berlin administration,” stated the Chancellery, adding, “We have declared 2026 the year of transformation for this purpose.” The reform project, which Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) has described as the foundation for a functional city, will continue to be a focus in the coming months.
What are the next steps?
Among the immediate priorities is an updated version of the Joint Rules of Procedure for the Berlin administration, currently under discussion in the Senate. Additionally, the announced Connextity Implementation Act is expected to be approved by the Senate in the coming weeks. The principle of Connextity dictates that the Senate must provide the necessary financial resources for tasks assigned to the districts. Various Senate administrations have already reviewed the draft law, and the Finance Administration is currently evaluating feedback. The aim is for the House of Representatives to pass the law before the summer recess.
Status of the Conciliation Body
The long-debated conciliation body, designed to resolve disputes between the Senate and the districts, is still in its preparatory stages. The state organization law stipulates that this body will be established at the beginning of each legislative period, meaning its first formation will be in the autumn or winter of 2026, following the House of Representatives election. Work on establishing the framework conditions for this body is expected to commence in March.
Clarification of Administrative Tasks
A core element of the reform is to clearly define administrative responsibilities and assign specific tasks. This will be detailed in a comprehensive catalog. According to the Senate Chancellery, nearly all of the approximately 2,000 tasks have been described. “We currently expect the transfer of the catalog into the legal ordinance to be completed in February,” the Senate Chancellery announced.
Subsequently, the Council of Mayors must approve the proposal before the Senate addresses it for a final time. The current timeline projects that the legal ordinance will be submitted to the House of Representatives in May. The parliament must then approve it, which can also occur by allowing a three-week “silence period” to elapse. Following this, the catalog will be publicly accessible as a database.
Reduction in Number of Tasks
During the task assessment, the catalog was streamlined from an initial nearly 4,500 entries to 2,000 tasks. According to the Senate Chancellery, this reduction was primarily achieved through improved descriptions and the elimination of redundancies and unclear formulations. “No services for citizens have been cut,” they emphasized. In the future, Senate administrations will regularly review whether certain tasks can be eliminated or better handled elsewhere, based on the task catalog.
Governing Mayor Kai Wegner has previously highlighted the importance of this reform for the city’s operational efficiency. The ongoing efforts aim to create a more transparent and effective administrative structure for Berlin, ensuring that services are delivered efficiently to its citizens.
