Following the Islamist attack on Berlin’s Christopher Street Day, Alexander Throm, the domestic policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, is advocating for a rapid overhaul of the Association Act. He told “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that quick reforms are necessary to effectively address extremists and terrorists.
According to Throm, it is vital to combat the funding mechanisms used by extremists and terrorists. This involves improving the tracing of financial flows and establishing better defenses against hidden financial methods, such as Hawala banking or unregistered cash donations. One proposed measure is that associations would now be required to disclose any financial contributions from abroad exceeding €10,000.
Furthermore, the reform aims to restart the Foreign Associations Register. Throm stressed that this register is a crucial tool in the process of review and banning associations. He emphasized that banning such organizations is a fundamental element of a robust democracy, particularly when groups propagate and spread constitutional hostility.
He noted that the CDU politician has long criticized the Foreign Associations Register for being dormant due to data protection concerns. In an era where foreign influence, including on German terrorists and extremists, is increasing, he argued that Germany can no longer afford to ignore the register. Throm stated that the planned reform would establish the necessary data protection framework and impose stricter obligations for submitting data to the Foreign Central Register. He concluded by urging the Bundestag to pass this reform swiftly.
