The Interior Ministers Conference (IMK) held a meeting in Hamburg on Friday, resulting in the adoption of a joint federal and state plan aimed at strengthening civil defense capabilities until 2029.
Furthermore, the ministers agreed to institutionally incorporate the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Bundeswehr into the IMK’s work. According to the Hansestadt’s authority for Interior and Sports, representatives from the Ministry of Defence will now participate in advisory discussions at the leadership level to aid in the planning of effective overall defense.
The core focus of the 225th session was reinforcing civil defense as the second pillar of comprehensive defense. The IMK welcomed the federal government’s outline for the Civil Protection Pact, which allocates €10.2 billion until 2029. Nonetheless, the states emphasized that additional financial efforts are necessary to ensure the effective fulfillment of these duties. Ministers and senators also voiced support for intensifying the integration of civil protection topics into school curricula to prepare children early for crises.
For the first time, Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius attended the main plenary session of the IMK. He stressed the critical need to enhance Germany’s capabilities for deterrence and defense. The conference also addressed the defense against hybrid threats and welcomed the establishment of the Joint Centre for Countering Hybrid Threats (GAZ Hybrid). Other topics discussed included migration policy, combating social welfare fraud and organized crime, and security measures in football stadiums.
