diff --git a/.github/workflows/auto_merge_release_hotfix_into_develop.yaml b/.github/workflows/auto_merge_release_hotfix_into_develop.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index a81c2b4b..00000000
--- a/.github/workflows/auto_merge_release_hotfix_into_develop.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-name: auto_merge_release_hotfix_into_develop
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    types:
-      - opened
-    branches:
-      - develop
-
-env:
-  BRANCH_DEVELOP: develop
-
-jobs:
-  auto_merge:
-    name: Merge release into develop
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    permissions:
-      contents: write
-    # only merge pull requests that begin with 'release/' or 'hotfix/'
-    if: startsWith(github.head_ref, 'release/') || startsWith(github.head_ref, 'hotfix/')
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Set GitHub token
-        run: |
-          echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
-          token: ${{ env.GH_TOKEN }}
-          # needed by "gh pr create"
-          fetch-depth: 0
-
-      - name: Merge PR
-        env:
-          PR_NUMBER: ${{ github.event.number }}
-          PR_TITLE: Merge branch '${{ github.head_ref }}' into ${{ env.BRANCH_DEVELOP }}
-        run: |
-          gh pr merge ${PR_NUMBER} -m -d -t "${PR_TITLE}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create_release_pr.yaml b/.github/workflows/create_release_pr.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..85367934
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/create_release_pr.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+name: create_release_pr
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - "release/**"
+      - "hotfix/**"
+
+jobs:
+  create_release_pr:
+    name: Create release pull request
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    # only create draft pull requests on
+    # pushing to branches 'release/' or 'hotfix/'
+    if: |
+      startsWith(github.ref_name, 'release/') ||
+      startsWith(github.ref_name, 'hotfix/')
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
+          # needed by "gh pr create"
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Set release type as release
+        if: startsWith(github.ref_name, 'release/')
+        run: echo "RELEASE_TYPE=release" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+      - name: Set release type as hotfix
+        if: startsWith(github.ref_name, 'hotfix/')
+        run: echo "RELEASE_TYPE=hotfix" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+      - name: Create release pull request
+        uses: ghacts/gitflow/create-release-pr@main
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
+          release-type: ${{ env.RELEASE_TYPE }}
+          release-branch-prefix: '${{ env.RELEASE_TYPE }}/'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/draft_release_hotfix_pr.yaml b/.github/workflows/draft_release_hotfix_pr.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index d85b5d57..00000000
--- a/.github/workflows/draft_release_hotfix_pr.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,86 +0,0 @@
-name: draft_release_hotfix_pr
-
-on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - "release/**"
-      - "hotfix/**"
-
-env:
-  BRANCH_MAIN: main
-  BRANCH_DEVELOP: develop
-  TAG_PREFIX: v
-
-jobs:
-  create_draft_pr:
-    name: Create draft PR
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    permissions:
-      contents: write
-    # only create draft pull requests on pushing to branches 'release/' or 'hotfix/'
-    if: (startsWith(github.ref_name, 'release/') || startsWith(github.ref_name, 'hotfix/'))
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Set GitHub token
-        run: |
-          echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.ref_name }}
-          token: ${{ env.GH_TOKEN }}
-          # needed by "gh pr create"
-          fetch-depth: 0
-
-      - name: Set environment variables for publishing release
-        if: startsWith(github.ref_name, 'release/')
-        run: |
-          BRANCH_NAME="${{ github.ref_name }}"
-          VERSION=${BRANCH_NAME#release/}
-          echo "RELEASE_VERSION=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo "RELEASE_TYPE=release" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Set environment variables for publishing hotfix
-        if: startsWith(github.ref_name, 'hotfix/')
-        run: |
-          BRANCH_NAME="${{ github.ref_name }}"
-          VERSION=${BRANCH_NAME#hotfix/}
-          echo "RELEASE_VERSION=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          echo "RELEASE_TYPE=hotfix" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Check whether pre-release version
-        if: contains(env.RELEASE_VERSION, 'alpha') || contains(env.RELEASE_VERSION, 'beta') || contains(env.RELEASE_VERSION, 'rc')
-        run: |
-          echo "PRE_RELEASE=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Set PR title
-        run: |
-          RELEASE_TYPE=${{ env.RELEASE_TYPE }}
-          PR_PREFIX=${RELEASE_TYPE^}
-          PR_TITLE="${PR_PREFIX} ${{ env.TAG_PREFIX }}${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
-          echo "PR_TITLE=$PR_TITLE" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Create PR '${{ env.PR_TITLE }}'
-        env:
-          PR_BODY: |
-            This PR was created to prepare for releasing ${{ env.TAG_PREFIX }}${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}.
-
-            Merging this PR will create the GitHub release ${{ env.TAG_PREFIX }}${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}.
-        run: |
-          PR_LABELS="automated-pr,${RELEASE_TYPE}-pr"
-
-          [[ ${PRE_RELEASE:-false} == "true" ]] && gh label create 'pre-release' --force && PR_LABELS="$PR_LABELS,pre-release"
-
-          for LABEL in $(echo $PR_LABELS | sed "s/,/ /g"); do gh label create $LABEL --force; done
-
-          PR_ID=$(gh pr list --state open --search "base:${{ env.BRANCH_MAIN }} head:${{ github.ref_name }}" | head -1 | cut -f1)
-          [[ ! -z "$PR_ID" ]] && echo "PR was created with ID $PR_ID. Ignored!" || \
-            gh pr create \
-              --draft \
-              --base "${{ env.BRANCH_MAIN }}" \
-              --head "${{ github.ref_name }}" \
-              --title "${{ env.PR_TITLE }}" \
-              --body "${{ env.PR_BODY }}" \
-              --label "${PR_LABELS}" \
-              --fill
diff --git a/.github/workflows/merge_release_into_develop.yaml b/.github/workflows/merge_release_into_develop.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..30704d10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/merge_release_into_develop.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+name: merge_release_into_develop
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types:
+      - opened
+    branches:
+      - develop
+
+jobs:
+  merge_release_into_develop:
+    name: Merge release into develop
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    # only merge pull requests that begin with 'release/' or 'hotfix/'
+    if: |
+      startsWith(github.head_ref, 'release/') ||
+      startsWith(github.head_ref, 'hotfix/')
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
+          # needed by "gh pr create"
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Merge ${{ github.head_ref }} into develop
+        uses: ghacts/gitflow/merge-release-into-develop@main
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
+          release-branch: ${{ github.head_ref }}
+          develop-branch: develop
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish_release.yaml b/.github/workflows/publish_release.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..89ea2d4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish_release.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+name: publish_release
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types:
+      - closed
+    branches:
+      - main
+
+env:
+  VERSION_TAG_PREFIX: "v"
+
+jobs:
+  release:
+    name: Publish release
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+    # only merge pull requests that begin with 'release/' or 'hotfix/'
+    if: github.event.pull_request.merged == true &&
+      (startsWith(github.head_ref, 'release/') || startsWith(github.head_ref, 'hotfix/'))
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
+          # needed by "gh pr create"
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Set release type as release
+        if: startsWith(github.head_ref, 'release/')
+        run: echo "RELEASE_TYPE=release" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+      - name: Set release type as hotfix
+        if: startsWith(github.head_ref, 'hotfix/')
+        run: echo "RELEASE_TYPE=hotfix" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
+      - name: Extract version from release branch
+        env:
+          BRANCH_NAME: ${{ github.head_ref }}
+          BRANCH_PREFIX: '${{ env.RELEASE_TYPE }}/'
+        run: |
+          RELEASE_VERSION=${BRANCH_NAME#${BRANCH_PREFIX}}
+          echo "RELEASE_VERSION=${RELEASE_VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Publish release
+        uses: ghacts/gitflow/publish-release@main
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
+          release-type: ${{ env.RELEASE_TYPE }}
+          release-branch-prefix: '${{ env.RELEASE_TYPE }}/'
+          notes-file: '.changes/${{ env.VERSION_TAG_PREFIX }}${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}.md'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index f4240174..00000000
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,86 +0,0 @@
-name: release
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    types:
-      - closed
-    branches:
-      - main
-
-env:
-  BRANCH_MAIN: main
-  BRANCH_DEVELOP: develop
-  TAG_PREFIX: v
-  CHANGELOG_DIR: .changes
-
-jobs:
-  release:
-    name: Publish new release
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    permissions:
-      contents: write
-    # only merge pull requests that begin with 'release/' or 'hotfix/'
-    if: github.event.pull_request.merged == true &&
-      (startsWith(github.head_ref, 'release/') || startsWith(github.head_ref, 'hotfix/'))
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Set GitHub token
-        run: |
-          echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.head_ref }}
-          token: ${{ env.GH_TOKEN }}
-          # needed by "gh pr create"
-          fetch-depth: 0
-
-      - name: Extract version from release branch
-        if: startsWith(github.head_ref, 'release/')
-        run: |
-          BRANCH_NAME="${{ github.head_ref }}"
-          VERSION=${BRANCH_NAME#release/}
-          echo "RELEASE_VERSION=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Extract version from hotfix branch
-        if: startsWith(github.head_ref, 'hotfix/')
-        run: |
-          BRANCH_NAME="${{ github.head_ref }}"
-          VERSION=${BRANCH_NAME#hotfix/}
-          echo "RELEASE_VERSION=$VERSION" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Check whether pre-release version
-        if: contains(env.RELEASE_VERSION, 'alpha') || contains(env.RELEASE_VERSION, 'beta') || contains(env.RELEASE_VERSION, 'rc')
-        run: |
-          echo "PRE_RELEASE=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - name: Create release
-        env:
-          RELEASE_TAG: "${{ env.TAG_PREFIX }}${{ env.RELEASE_VERSION }}"
-        run: |
-          gh release create \
-            ${{ env.RELEASE_TAG }} \
-            --target ${{ github.event.pull_request.merge_commit_sha }} \
-            --title "${{ env.RELEASE_TAG }}" \
-            --notes-file "${{ env.CHANGELOG_DIR }}/${{ env.RELEASE_TAG }}.md" \
-            --prerelease=${PRE_RELEASE:-false}
-
-      - name: Create PR ${{ github.head_ref }} -> ${{ env.BRANCH_DEVELOP }} and merge automatically
-        env:
-          PR_TITLE: Merge branch '${{ github.head_ref }}' into ${{ env.BRANCH_DEVELOP }}
-          PR_BODY: |
-            This PR merges the branch '${{ github.head_ref }}' back into the branch '${{ env.BRANCH_DEVELOP }}'.
-
-            This ensures that the updates on the branch '${{ github.head_ref }}', i.e. CHANGELOG and manifest updates, are also present on the branch '${{ env.BRANCH_DEVELOP }}'.
-          PR_LABEL: automated-pr
-        run: |
-          gh label create ${{ env.PR_LABEL }} --force
-
-          gh pr create \
-            --base ${{ env.BRANCH_DEVELOP }} \
-            --head ${{ github.head_ref }} \
-            --title "${{ env.PR_TITLE }}" \
-            --body "${{ env.PR_BODY }}" \
-            --label "${{ env.PR_LABEL }}" \
-            --fill