Germany Advances National Once-Only Technical System with Bundesrat Feedback
Berlin, Germany – July 16, 2025 – A significant step has been taken in the advancement of Germany’s digital infrastructure with the publication of a new legislative draft concerning the establishment, operation, and further development of the National Once-Only Technical System (NOOTS). This initiative, central to the execution of Article 91c, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz), aims to streamline administrative processes by ensuring that citizens and businesses only need to provide information to public authorities once.
The relevant document, designated as Drucksache 21/894, was officially published by the Bundestag today, July 16, 2025, at 10:00 AM. This publication follows the submission of a position statement by the Bundesrat, Germany’s upper house of parliament, as outlined in Drucksache 21/538. The incorporation of the Bundesrat’s feedback is a crucial element in the legislative process, ensuring that the proposed treaty, known as the NOOTS State Treaty, is well-considered and harmonized across federal and state levels.
The National Once-Only Technical System represents a forward-looking approach to public administration, seeking to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and enhance efficiency. The core principle behind NOOTS is to create a secure and integrated technical infrastructure that allows for the seamless and secure exchange of data between different public authorities. This means that once a piece of information is submitted by an individual or a company to a government entity, it can be securely accessed by other authorized authorities when needed, without requiring the same information to be re-submitted.
The treaty governing the establishment, operation, and further development of NOOTS is a key legal framework that will underpin this ambitious project. It outlines the responsibilities, technical standards, and data protection measures necessary for the system’s successful implementation and long-term viability. The input from the Bundesrat, as detailed in their accompanying statement (Drucksache 21/538), is expected to address crucial aspects such as the scope of data exchange, the participation of various federal and state authorities, and the safeguarding of citizen data privacy.
The publication of Drucksache 21/894 signifies that the legislative process is moving forward, allowing for further parliamentary debate and refinement of the proposed NOOTS State Treaty. This development underscores Germany’s commitment to digital transformation and its ongoing efforts to create a more efficient and citizen-friendly public administration. The NOOTS initiative has the potential to significantly improve the user experience for individuals and businesses interacting with the government, while also fostering greater interoperability and data security within the public sector. Further updates on the legislative progress are anticipated as the treaty moves through the parliamentary stages.
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Drucksachen published ’21/894: Unterrichtung Entwurf eines Gesetzes zum Vertrag über die Errichtung, den Betrieb und die Weiterentwicklung des Nationalen Once-Only-Technical-Systems (NOOTS) – Vertrag zur Ausführung von Artikel 91c Absatz 1, Absatz 2 GG – NOOTS-Staatsvertrag – Drucksache 21/538 – Stellungnahme des Bundesrates (PDF)’ at 2025-07-16 10:00. Please write a detailed article about this news in a polite tone with relevant information. Please reply in English with the article only.