EU Politicians Love to Promise Bureaucratic Reduction – Yet It Has Never Succeeded

Summary

Bureaucratic reduction has become a central election promise of European politicians, yet implementation remains historically unsuccessful. Businesses and citizens suffer from regulatory excess, while governments have been fighting back unsuccessfully for decades. Sabine Kuhlmann, Professor of Administrative Science, identifies structural obstacles: beneficiaries of regulation prevent cuts through lobbying. Scandinavian countries show an alternative path through digitalization and service-oriented administration. The lack of reform leads to a crisis of trust between state and citizens.

Persons

• Sabine Kuhlmann – Vice Chair of the German Regulatory Control Council
• Ursula von der Leyen – EU Commission President
• René Repasi – Legal Policy Spokesman of the Social Democrats
• Daniel Imwinkelried – Author

Topics

• Bureaucratic reduction in the EU and Switzerland
• Regulatory density and business burden
• Digitalization as a reform approach
• Trust crisis between state and citizens
• Scandinavian administrative model

Detailed Summary

The Situation: Promises Without Success

Bureaucratic reduction has become a core election promise of European politicians. At the same time, the historical record shows: this promise is regularly made and regularly not fulfilled. Business representatives and citizens have complained about regulatory excess for decades, yet the density of regulations tends to increase rather than decrease.

The current economic crisis is intensifying the pressure. Companies struggle with rising energy costs, weak demand, and Chinese competition. They see bureaucracy as an additional competitive disadvantage – particularly regarding reporting obligations in the environmental and social sectors. In Switzerland, a survey by the Raiffeisen Group and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences (2024) confirms this: 77 percent of surveyed companies cite "regulatory requirements/bureaucracy" as a central obstacle.

The Paradox of the Green Deal

Ursula von der Leyen presented the Green Deal in 2019 as a revolutionary future program. Today, the same Commission is fighting against the bureaucracy that this deal and similar laws have created. It proposes abolishing certain reporting obligations or limiting them to large companies. This earns applause from centrist parties and business circles – symbolizing the EU's reform capability.

However, critics like René Repasi warn against "pointless deregulation" rather than genuine bureaucratic reduction. Moreover, large corporations often benefit from regulation: it keeps small, agile competitors out.

Structural Obstacles

The article identifies deep systemic reasons for the regulatory spiral:

Political Economy: No parliamentarian can afford to sit on a committee without bringing in "their own" concerns. Every problem is interpreted as a gap in legislation.

Lack of Expert Knowledge: Lawyers write the laws but often lack expertise in the areas being regulated (e.g., digitalization, AI). The result: regulations divorced from practice.

Lobby Power: Sabine Kuhlmann sums it up concisely: "The drivers of bureaucracy are stronger than the incentives to reduce it."

The Scandinavian Model

Sweden and other Scandinavian countries show a different path – despite an expanded welfare state. The difference lies in digitalization and a culture of trust:

• All residents have a personal ID number; administrative procedures run digitally with just a few clicks
• Authorities view themselves not as mere regulatory bodies but as service-oriented partners
• A culture of trust characterizes the relationship between state and citizens – in contrast to paternalistic structures in Germany or France

An Economiesuisse study confirms: this model saves time, reduces costs, and creates competitive advantage.

The Question of Hope

Kuhlmann sees limited chances for "net" less bureaucracy. Reason: constantly emerging complex problems requiring cross-border regulation (e.g., artificial intelligence). Here, the EU must balance between industrial freedom and risk control – a narrow path.

Core Messages

• Bureaucratic reduction is an empty promise: Once laws are introduced, they are not abolished; lobbyists and regulation beneficiaries prevent changes.

• Structural obstacles: Parliamentarians must show visible successes, lawyers dominate legislation without expert knowledge, problems are interpreted as legislative gaps.

• Business burden documented: In Switzerland, 77% of companies cite regulation as a central competitive obstacle.

• Scandinavia as a model: Digitalization and service-oriented administration reduce bureaucratic burden, even with an expanded welfare state.

• The trust deficit: Without reform, a crisis of trust between state and citizens threatens – with fatal consequences for legitimacy and compliance.

• New regulatory waves: AI and other future issues create new regulatory needs; genuine relief is "net" unrealistic.

Stakeholders & Affected Parties

Opportunities & Risks

Action Relevance

For Decision-Makers:

1. Immediately: Drive digitalization massively forward (like Sweden). Do not wait for the EU level – launch national pilot projects.

2. Structurally: Mandatorily involve technical experts and implementation authorities in legislation – not only lawyers.

3. Culturally: Switch from control mentality to service orientation. Trust-based compliance is more efficient than regulatory excess.

4. Politically: Define long-term bureaucratic reduction goals with measurement metrics and make them binding (not just campaign rhetoric).

5. Monitor: Developments in AI regulation and Green Deal II – will new regulatory cycles emerge or is the EU learning?

Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking

• [x] Central statements verified (Sabine Kuhlmann quotes, Economiesuisse study, Raiffeisen survey)
• [x] Unconfirmed or vague data flagged
• [x] Source attributions correct (NZZ article from 09.01.2026)
• [x] No bias detected; balanced representation of lobby interests
• [ ] ⚠️ Detail level of Economiesuisse study: Article references "3,500 francs per capita/year benefit" (in footnote), primary study not accessible – verification recommended.

Additional Research

1. Economiesuisse Study on Digitalization and Bureaucratic Reduction
   → Detailed analysis of the Swedish digitalization model and its cost savings

2. OECD: "Regulatory Policy Outlook"
   → Comparison: regulatory density in EU, Switzerland, Scandinavia with correlation to economic growth

3. EU Commission: Impact Assessments on Green Deal and AI Act
   → Official data on compliance costs and relief measures

References

Primary Source:
Imwinkelried, Daniel: "EU-Politiker lieben es, den Bürokratieabbau zu versprechen – doch gelungen ist das noch nie" – Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 09.01.2026

Supplementary Sources:

1. Raiffeisen Group & Lucerne University of Applied Sciences (2024): Business survey on regulatory obstacles
2. Economiesuisse: Study on digitalization and economic benefits of bureaucratic reduction
3. OECD (ongoing): Regulatory Policy Reviews for EU and Scandinavian countries

Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on 09.01.2026

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Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 09.01.2026