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Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Digitalization moves to the Ministry of Finance!
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is planning a departmental change to digitization. Finance Minister Geue is taking responsibility to reduce bureaucracy and save costs.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Digitalization moves to the Ministry of Finance!
Something is happening in the area of digitalization in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. On July 22, 2025, the cabinet will discuss a planned change of department, which aims to decisively advance the digital transformation in the state administration. The area of digitalization, previously located in the Ministry of the Interior, will fall under the responsibility of Heiko Geue's (SPD) Ministry of Finance. This makes it possible for the ministry to pool its competencies in administrative modernization and not only reduce bureaucracy, but also save costs in the long term n-tv reported.
The proposal comes from Interior Minister Christian Pegel and is part of a broader strategy that also shifts responsibility for the integration of migrants to the Interior Ministry. The preparation of the state budget for 2026/2027 is already the focus of the current cabinet meeting.
Criticism of the current state of digitalization
However, the digitalization of the state administration in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has come under sharp criticism. In a special report published at the end of 2024, the State Audit Office criticized massive failures by the red-red state government. There is a lack of a clear digitalization strategy that would define how digitalization can make citizens' lives better. In addition, the administration has not been sufficiently restructured to be more citizen-friendly NDR highlights.
An obvious confusion of responsibilities between different departments makes it difficult to develop a clear strategy. The digital department of the Ministry of the Interior, the Center for Digitalization MV (ZDMV) and the data processing center (DVZ) are facing major challenges. In particular, the State Audit Office points out that the ZDMV, which was only founded at the end of 2022, is still not operational more than two years later. Security gaps in the IT structure and deficiencies in cyber security make matters even more difficult.
Key topics of the digitalization strategy
Efforts to achieve successful digitalization urgently need to be restructured. The current challenges are diverse and range from unfilled leadership positions in the area of digitalization to difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified personnel. The need for continuous training and adjustment of job profiles is obvious, as is the case Bundesdruckerei emphasized. Future digital strategies should take artificial intelligence, cloud solutions and digital citizen portals into account, as well as the ever-increasing importance of IT security.
The State Audit Office suggests making the state administration more independent of large software providers such as Microsoft and promoting open source solutions instead. Minister Pegel could play a key role in this debate, as he has not been able to fill a key position in the digital state administration department for months.
Overall, it is clear that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is facing a wake-up call. If the state government wants to achieve its goals of creating real benefits for citizens and companies through digitalization, it must take action in the coming months and implement consistent changes. Citizens are also waiting for a digital administration that provides them with meaningful support in everyday life and does not overburden them.