The Initiative for an Effective State presented its final report to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier today. With the coalition agreement of the current federal government incorporating numerous key recommendations, the four initiators of the initiative are urging that these reforms be pursued as a “major collective endeavor”. The report also offers further recommendations, including the need for political parties to renew themselves to remain relevant; the potential of model municipalities and regions to pilot new reform approaches and drive implementation; and the growing influence of social media as a threat to democracy: “this issue must be placed at the top of the political agenda”.
With a call to the CDU/CSU-SPD governing coalition and the federal states for decisive action, the Initiative for an Effective State concludes its work. “The will to change this country and pursue state reform runs through the coalition agreement,” states the final report. Many of the initiative’s recommendations are reflected in it. Now the focus must be on implementation: “If even half of these plans were realised, this country would be a different one.” The final report and further information can be found on the initiative’s website: Initiative for an Effective State.
On Monday, the four initiators Julia Jäkel, Thomas de Maizière, Peer Steinbrück, and Andreas Voßkuhle presented their final report to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the initiative’s patron. The report revisits the discussion around their recommendations since the interim report in March and evaluates the coalition agreement in light of those proposals. It also expands the report from 30 to 35 recommendations.
To implement the plans in the coalition agreement, state reform must be seen as a shared responsibility, the initiators emphasise. A single Minister for Digital Affairs and State Modernisation is not enough: “Silo thinking must now be set aside.” The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor must drive reforms forward, with federal and state governments pulling in the same direction. As a “solid and binding foundation,” the initiators highlight the joint modernisation agenda adopted by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the state premiers on 18 June 2025.
Across politics and administration, reforms require a critical mass: “Those committed to renewal from within must be empowered, and doers from outside must be attracted,” the report says.
The initiative also sees political parties as having a duty to renew themselves. The success of state reform “centrally depends on the parties’ internal capacity to reform.” Action is needed: parties are losing credibility, and “internal decision-making risks losing touch with real life.”
To accelerate the implementation of reforms in public administration, the initiators recommend the creation of model municipalities and model regions, where proposals for modernising the entire administration can be tested. These could trial simplified application and approval procedures, faster citizen services, and a new culture around personnel, leadership, and dealing with errors. Among those actively volunteering for this are the city of Stralsund (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and the Cologne administrative district.
Another key to an effective state is countering the threat to democracy posed by social media. These platforms have acquired significant political power: “But the exercise of power requires control and order.” Proposed measures include the elimination of liability exemptions for social media platforms regarding the content they distribute and stricter enforcement of youth protection laws. “This issue,” the initiators stress, “belongs at the top of the political agenda!”
The final report also includes new recommendations for the work of intelligence services, which are “too dependent on intelligence from allied services.” They should be given comparable powers to other services for foreign intelligence.
The initiators also make proposals for skilled labour immigration. Access to the labour market should be expedited, and integration made easier through a ‘One Shop’ process involving coordination between relevant authorities.
The Initiative for an Effective State ends its work with the publication of the final report: “We wanted to provide an impetus for state reform – we consider that goal achieved. We can and do not want to be a permanent oversight or advisory body.”
This reform project is a joint initiative of media executive and supervisory board member Julia Jäkel, former federal ministers Thomas de Maizière and Peer Steinbrück, and constitutional law scholar and long-time President of the Federal Constitutional Court Andreas Voßkuhle. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier served as patron. The initiators acted voluntarily, independently of political parties or interest groups, and aimed to “help overcome blockages and self-blockages in government action.”
The initiative is financially and organisationally supported by four prominent foundations: the Hertie Foundation, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, the Mercator Foundation, and the ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius. The Hertie School in Berlin served as the initiative’s Head Office.
To develop their recommendations, the four initiators worked with 54 experts in seven working groups. Participants came from various fields and regions of Germany – including mayors, school principals, entrepreneurs, public administration professionals, researchers and IT specialists. The report also incorporates feedback from numerous alumni of the supporting foundations, young professionals from business, science, and administration.
The report will be published as a book on 12 August by Herder Verlag and will be available online from 11:00 AM at Initiative for an Effective State | Hertie School.
Press Contact Stiftung Mercator
Lothar Kuhn | Director Communications Stiftung Mercator
T +49 201-245 22-36 | lothar.kuhn@stiftung-mercator.de
Press Contact Hertie School
Benjamin Stappenbeck | Director Communications Hertie School
T +49 175 1950030 | stappenbeck.@hertie-school.org
Initiative Secretariat Contact
staatsreform@hertie-school.org
About Stiftung Mercator
Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent foundation acting on the basis of scientific insight and practical project experience. Since 1996, it has promoted a participatory and inclusive society through projects that strengthen social cohesion. It advocates for an open, democratic Europe, a rights-based digital transformation, and socially just climate protection. The foundation is particularly connected to the Ruhr region, home of its founders and headquarters.
www.stiftung-mercator.de
About the Hertie School
For over 20 years, the Hertie School in the heart of Berlin has taught, researched, and communicated on policymaking and good governance. The university offers master’s programs, doctoral tracks, and custom training for public sector leaders. Under the motto “Understand today. Shape tomorrow.”, around 150 researchers work at the Hertie School. It stands out for its practical approach and international orientation. Six research centres enhance its expertise in sustainability, fundamental rights, digital policy, security, and European affairs. Founded in 2004 by the Hertie Foundation, the university is state-recognised and accredited by the German Council of Science and Humanities.
www.hertie-school.org
About the Hertie Foundation
The Hertie Foundation focuses on two key areas: research and strengthening democracy. Its projects set model impulses in these fields, always focused on improving people’s lives. Founded in 1974 by the heirs of department store owner Georg Karg, the Hertie Foundation is one of Germany’s largest ideologically and financially independent foundations. The name “Hertie” goes back to Hermann Tietz, co-founder of the namesake department store group.
www.ghst.de
About ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS
The ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS promotes an open, engaged civil society and supports a culture of democratic debate. Since 1971, it has defended freedoms and created space for dialogue through its own initiatives and projects in science, culture, education, politics, and media. In 2000, it founded Bucerius Law School as Germany’s first private law university, aiming to reform legal education. Today, it is among the country’s top institutions for practical, international legal training.
www.zeit-stiftung.de
About Fritz Thyssen Foundation
Founded in 1959 as the first major private foundation after World War II, the Fritz Thyssen Foundation supports academic research—especially in the humanities, social sciences, and biomedical sciences. Supporting early-career scholars has always been a key concern of founders Amélie Thyssen and Anita Gräfin Zichy-Thyssen. The foundation is based in Cologne.
www.fritz-thyssen-stiftung.de
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