The Federal Ministry of Justice is digitalising and strengthening the justice system and the rule of law. We are working to modernise our country – and we are dedicated to fighting bureaucracy. We are bringing the law into line with today’s social reality and strengthening citizens' rights. We are working on a modern and pragmatic approach to migration policy. And we are committed to working with other countries to promote the international prosecution of war crimes – especially in Ukraine.
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Less bureaucracy means more speed. Bureaucracy not only burdens citizens, it also slows down state processes and weakens the economy. In times of economic hardship more than ever, companies need room for manoeuvre, enabling them to react to problems flexibly. They need more time for their actual business. Many businesses are suffering from bureaucracy burnout. Reducing bureaucracy is a zero-cost stimulus package with the power to make our businesses more competitive. The time has come for decisive action.
Digitalisation is the most effective way to reduce bureaucracy and speed up processes. This applies to businesses, but also to public administration. Together with the Länder, we have launched a joint initiative to digitalise the justice system. In the coming years, we want to provide 200 million euros to promote digital projects.
A robust state under the rule of law requires a well-functioning justice system. That is why we are reducing the burden on courts caused by mass civil litigation. By introducing a new type of representative action known as "action for redress", we are strengthening consumers' rights by allowing a single representative action to take the place of a large number of individual actions. But we have also introduced an equitable solution for companies, providing them with a quicker path to legal certainty. To further reduce the burden on courts arising from mass claims, we are also introducing the concept of leading decisions. And we are strengthening the justice system by introducing commercial courts.
A robust state under the rule of law needs clear rules. Acquiring German citizenship will be faster in future – but it will also be subject to stricter requirements. Naturalisation should generally only be possible for people who are able to support themselves financially and who accept the free democratic basic order. In other words: recipients of social benefits such as Bürgergeld (citizen’s benefit) cannot become German citizens. Antisemites will not receive a German passport either. This has always been the right approach, and recent weeks have shown us just how important this stance is.
Any interference with fundamental rights must always be the exception – and requires particular justification. We have re-established the proportionality of interferences with human rights as a key political principle and ensured that freedom is once again the rule in Germany. Just as a state under the rule of law has an obligation to uphold the freedoms of its citizens, it must also protect their privacy – not intrude on it.
The law must keep pace with social reality – and we are making sure that it does. We have abolished section 219a of the Criminal Code, and the newly reformed naming law will usher in greater freedom for families, couples and children.
Almost three years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. Putin’s criminal war of aggression has been raging ever since. To date, more than 140,000 war crimes have been registered by the Ukrainian authorities. The Federal Public Prosecutor General is also conducting preliminary investigations. German investigators are collecting evidence and identifying potential perpetrators.
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