Recent drone sightings have underscored a shifting security landscape, prompting the Association of Cities and Municipalities to advocate for a significant overhaul of Germany’s disaster preparedness and resilience. André Berghegger, Chief Executive of the association, emphasized the urgency of developing a coordinated strategy to address escalating threats.
The association is calling for a fundamental rethinking of resilience, prioritizing the ability of local authorities to effectively safeguard their populations. A proposed “Resilience Task Force” would bring together representatives from federal and state governments, municipalities, security agencies and fire departments to formulate and implement new approaches.
Improved collaboration between civilian populations and disaster protection services is deemed essential across all levels of government. Municipalities, the association argues, require substantially increased financial resources to fulfill their protective duties. The estimated cost for civil protection alone reaches approximately 10 billion euros over the next decade.
Concerns extend beyond physical security, with a marked increase in cyberattacks since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine. Berghegger cited statistics indicating that one in four German municipalities experienced a cyberattack in the past year.
The association highlighted that municipalities currently lack adequate support in the realm of cybersecurity, a situation described as unacceptable. A coordinated national cybersecurity architecture, encompassing regional crisis reaction teams and clear lines of responsibility, is urgently needed. The Association is urging the federal government to leverage the exception to Germany’s debt brake to facilitate sustainable investment in security measures nationwide.
