Sébastien Lecornu: Government austerity measures for an effective Germany!

Sébastien Lecornu: Government austerity measures for an effective Germany!

Yesterday, September 19, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the appointment of two high-ranking officials who will dedicate themselves to the much-discussed reform of state agencies and offices entitled “État efficace”. This initiative follows growing pressure to rationalize government spending and seek savings in the public sector. Lecornu assigned Pierre-Mathieu Duhamel and Denis Morin to lead this important mission, reported ladepeche.fr.

This reform aims to achieve better organization and efficiency of the public service by merging, merging or even abolishing redundant structures. In view of worrying state finances, the signs point to savings. Particular focus is on the planned cancellations of several ministerial and interministerial delegations. Among other things, the mission to monitor results in the area of ​​agricultural water supply and climate adaptation will be canceled, and the delegation for major sporting events will be integrated into the sports directorate.

Planned measures for savings

Other savings announced include the elimination of the position of national coordinator for mobility at the 2024 Olympics and the abolition of the Universal National Service (SNU) delegation. However, it is emphasized that this is not about an immediate abolition of the SNU; Rather, a reorganization is being considered. Lecornu left open what exact savings the measures might bring, which is also seen as important in the context of the general review of public spending.

Minister Bruno Le Maire also announced that 2023 marks a shift in public spending policies, especially in the wake of the COVID pandemic. Potential for savings of 10 billion euros has been identified, which will be integrated into the draft finance bill for 2024, as ey.com explained. These savings are part of a necessary change to increase efficiency in the public sector and restore government finances.

The path to efficiency in administration

An important element in the review of expenditure is the involvement of different actors, including relevant administrations, parliamentary commissions and locally elected representatives. An open spending review process could help align public expectations with policy-making processes. This also illustrates the desire to make the effectiveness of savings sustainable, open and result-oriented.

A comparable approach to increasing the efficiency of public administration is shown in a current study by acatech, which deals with innovation friendliness in Germany. According to the study authors, the implementation of innovative concepts often faces numerous obstacles, including a high number of requirements and reporting requirements that hinder progress. In order for a positive transformation to succeed, areas such as personnel and structures must be rethought egovernment.de reported.

Overall, it can be said that the ambitious plans and reforms are of central importance given the current challenges in the state budget and the pursuit of efficiency in the public sector. While the État Efficace measure provides a promising direction, the effectiveness of the savings and the associated public support remain crucial to the success of these reforms.