Schellhorn defends sluggish bureaucracy reduction and points to the ministries

How arduous implementation can sometimes be was illustrated by Thür with a concrete example: in the Environmental Management Act, the requirement for a fax number is still supposed to be removed. Schellhorn took the example in stride and passed the ball along: "An mir liegt's nicht." The effort was to make processes easier, not more difficult.

Coalition arithmetic as a brake track

The coalition arithmetic is slowing the pace, the NEOS politician conceded. He is demanding 24 reforms from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, while the ministry sees itself responsible for only 23. "Es hat einfach seine Vorläufe, drei Parteien müssen sich halt einigen, das ist eben die Koalitionsarbeit," said Schellhorn. He understands the impatience but is working through "alles ab."

According to Schellhorn's words, there will not be a second large package. "Sepp 2" is not planned, he confirmed. Instead, they want to go "kleinteilig in die Ministerien hinein." A large package "würde den zeitlichen Rahmen und die Ungeduld sprengen." The first package was meant to "die Dampflokomotive faktisch auf Volldampf zu bringen."

EcoAustria report and 20 billion euros in potential

In the morning, Schellhorn had presented the first "Entbürokratisierungsbericht," produced by the economic research institute EcoAustria for 15,467.67 euros. According to this analysis, bureaucracy costs the state up to 20 billion euros per year. If Austria reduced its bureaucratic burden to the Dutch level, 20 billion euros in growth per year would be possible, Schellhorn calculated. "Dieses Potenzial müsse ausgeschöpft werden," he said: "Ich will liefern."

Over 5,000 submissions from citizens had been incorporated into the report, the State Secretary reported. They are now working "nicht im Blindflug" and "nicht aus dem Bauchgefühl heraus, sondern auch evidenzbasiert." They do not want to "mit einem vollen Paket zuschütten" the ministries. Instead, they go "kleinteilig in die Ministerien hinein."

Thür followed up, asking whether that wasn't a "Wunsch ans Christkind." Schellhorn countered: "Das ist eine berechtigte Kritik, ich verstehe Ihre Ungeduld." He too would prefer it to be faster: "Unser Wunsch wäre, dass wir viel mehr schon viel schneller streichen können, weil die Wirtschaft es braucht und weil der Standort es braucht."

The role of the State Secretary

Schellhorn described the role of the State Secretary modestly: "Ich kann selber nichts umsetzen, das wissen Sie." He is there "zu moderieren, einzubringen und mit den Ministerien auch einzeln zu verhandeln." The responsibility lies with the entire federal government, "aber auch bei jedem Bürgermeister, jeder Bürgermeisterin und jedem Landeshauptmann."

Asked about federalism, which complicates things like building permits, Schellhorn was diplomatic: "Der Föderalismus ist sehr stark." He repeatedly invites the federal states "mit uns zu rudern." He sees positive examples in Styria and in the cooperation with State Secretaries Pröll and Leichtfried.

Schellhorn picked up the image of rowing together several times: "Wir rudern alle, auch ich rudere und ich lade immer wieder die Landeshauptleute ein, auch hier mit uns zu rudern." They sit "gemeinsam in einem Boot," it is not about particular interests. The ORF commentary noted that this was "nicht unbedingt ein geschicktes Bild."

Federalism and the federal states

If the Ministry of Economic Affairs says a matter is not assignable to it, "dann werden wir das ausdiskutieren," Schellhorn announced. In many areas, old regulations must be let go of and "neu denken." However, "gewisse Dinge" must "abgestimmt werden," and in the three-party logic, "immer wieder andere Vorschläge" come up.

A mentioned company car is as important to him as the fax machine, namely not at all: "Das ist die mediale Berichterstattung," Schellhorn waved off. Asked why the reform package "Sepp 1" would not be followed by a "Sepp 2," he pointed to the complexity: "Man wird im Leben auch gescheiter."

Schellhorn disagreed with the assessment that the first package had been too small. It had been "das erste große Entbürokratisierungs-Entlastungspaket." "Aber das Große und Ganze sind ja die anderen 23," he said with a view to the still-open measures. The government has been in office for 500 days, 38 percent have been completed.

Outlook: no "Sepp 2"

Overall, the State Secretary appeared combative: "Ich will liefern." He will "auf keinen Fall" deregulate himself. He takes the criticism of the sluggish implementation seriously, but the responsibility lies with the ministries. "Wir arbeiten alles ab," he assured.

The reaction on social media and on "ZiB 2" was muted. Thür confronted Schellhorn with the sober figure of 43 out of 113; the State Secretary pointed to the large savings potential of 20 billion euros. "Da habe ich recht," said Schellhorn at that moment, "und das ist das, worauf es ankommt."

At the end of the interview, Schellhorn thanked for the "berechtigte Kritik" and reaffirmed his will to reform. The next steps would be taken "kleinteilig"; a second large package is not planned. The federal states and the ministries are now on the move.

With the report presented on Thursday, the basis for the further work is to be provided. EcoAustria received 15,467.67 euros for this. Schellhorn announced that he would negotiate the results with the ministries in the coming weeks. "Wir rudern alle," he repeated as a farewell.

The coming weeks will show whether the pace of bureaucracy reduction actually picks up. Schellhorn is betting on negotiation rather than a second large package. Whether that will be enough to convince the economy and the citizens will be measured by the number of implemented measures.

One thing is certain: 43 out of 113 is a beginning, but no feather in the cap. The government still has around 70 open projects from "Sepp 1." Schellhorn sees himself as a moderator, not a doer. Whether this role will suffice to tap the 20 billion euros in savings potential remains to be seen.