Germany: Interior Minister sees need for action on civil protection

Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier has urged immediate action on civil and population protection, stating it is high time to address the issue given the geopolitical climate. While acknowledging Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt's focus on migration, Maier stressed that civil defense must now be prioritized.

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But it is high time that we also take care of the issue of civil and population protection in view of the geopolitical situation.

"A joint situation center for hybrid threats is overdue. This is now coming and that is good," Maier said, highlighting the necessity of understanding and coordinating responses to threats like sabotage and drone incursions. He believes knowing "what is happening" is crucial for coordinated action.

The federal and state interior ministers are scheduled to meet in Hamburg from June 17-19, with civil and population protection on the agenda. Maier recently visited Finland, where he observed their civil defense strategies. He noted that Finnish schools educate children on disinformation, and the public readily accepts conscription. He also praised Finland's approach to public shelters, which are integrated into daily life as sports facilities and offer more capacity than the population in Helsinki requires, even accounting for commuters.

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A joint situation center for hybrid threats is overdue. This is now coming and that is good.

In contrast, Maier pointed out that Germany has lost many shelters since the end of the Cold War, based on a false sense of security. The upcoming conference in Hamburg aims to address these gaps and strengthen Germany's civil defense capabilities.

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We simply need to know what is happening and then take coordinated action against it.