By Stephen Peter
Interior Senator Iris Spranger (60, SPD) gives the go-ahead for digitization in the authorities – but much remains the same.
Interior Senator Iris Spranger (60, SPD) is a few minutes late for her own PR appointment. But that’s nothing compared to the digitization of Berlin’s administration – it’s years too late!
In the Schiller library on Müllerstraße, Spranger was delighted with the start of the digital file in the Mitte district office. Public authority employees now have access to the files from any computer, can view them or make comments.
“For me, the digital file is part of the basic equipment of a modern administration,” says Spranger. The Senate has great hopes: Applications for parking vignettes or building permits will be processed faster in the future.
The so-called e-government law, which regulates the digitization of administration, came into force in June 2016. “Berlin is the digital capital,” said the then governor Michael Müller (57, SPD) – in reality, almost nothing happened in the administration.
Berlin is more digi-qual than digital!
“The digital file will of course be a fundamental change for public administration,” explained Spranger. “It’s a huge simplification for the employees.”
Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD), State Secretary Ralf Kleindiek (middle) and Mitte’s Deputy Mayor Ephraim Gothe (SPD) Photo: Jörg Carstensen/dpa
This year, 15 other authorities will follow, including the administration of the interior and justice and the district offices of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Tempelhof-Schoeneberg and Marzahn-Hellersdorf. By the end of 2024, the modern file is to be introduced in all Berlin authorities (for 70,000 jobs). Cost: 135 million euros!
Mittes Deputy Mayor Ephraim Gothe (58, SPD) knows only too well the many file trolleys that are pushed through the corridors of his authority every day. His hope: “That will be passé at some point!” However, the digital file is not yet available in all offices of his town hall.
Means: files are still being transported in 11½ district offices with file trolleys…
The interior senator was ridiculed by the opposition: “I would be a bit embarrassed to make an appointment from the start of the digital file if it was years too late,” said CDU MP Johannes Kraft (45). And: “Everyone muddles along in the administration, the technology comes from the last millennium.”
FDP digital expert Roman-Francesco Rogat (32) warns: “Berlin must not lose touch with the digital transformation of public administration!”
Estonia is the class leader in digitization
There are only three things that cannot be done online in Estonia: getting married, getting divorced and buying a property. The small country in the Baltic States (1.3 million inhabitants) is a leader in terms of digitization of administration!
An electronic citizen card was introduced 20 years ago, with which almost everything can be done online. If desired, the card can also be used by the doctor, who saves his data. A nightmare for strict German privacy advocates! Electronic voting has been possible in Estonia since 2005, which has resulted in a drastic increase in voter turnout.
