A functioning civil service is not an end in itself. It is the foundation for freedom, security, democracy and economic development.

However, the civil service no longer has any personnel reserves. Due to the Corona pandemic, our colleagues, including those who are not directly involved in fighting it, are working to the limit and beyond. Overwork, depression, anxiety and burnout are the consequences. A similar situation had already occurred five years earlier when it was necessary to deal with the large refugee and migration movements.

The EPC study on ‘Well performing public services for a fair and resilient European society’ shows what can be concretely improved and how this can be achieved. I would like to briefly pick out two points as examples, the first being digitalization.

The financial pressure for the introduction of digital technologies is greater for the public service sector than for the general economy

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