The District Council has called for substantially increased efforts in civil defense, arguing that the necessary measures must go beyond the investments already planned by the federal government. According to Kay Ruge, Chief Executive of the District Council, the state’s crisis preparedness requires a much more serious approach and additional funding, given the evolving security landscape, the risk of hybrid threats, potential attack or war scenarios, and the increase in natural disasters.
However, Ruge cautioned against looking at this issue solely from the federal perspective, stressing that local readiness is paramount. He emphasized that core functionality relies on the efforts at the district and municipal level, drawing on existing local resources such as control centers, fire departments, aid organizations, hospitals, and administrative staff.
He expressed skepticism about the full practical implementation of federal assistance, stating that it remains unclear how much of the vehicles and equipment promised through the supplementary package will actually reach the districts until the precise contents of that package are fully disclosed. Consequently, Ruge strongly warned that, given the significantly altered threat environment, further investments will inevitably be required, confirming that the current federal package can only be viewed as an initial step.
Ultimately, the District Council demands that the federal government utilize its new financing options comprehensively, going beyond the established package. For the overall effort to succeed, a cohesive, coordinated strategy is crucial. Therefore, Ruge stressed that both the states (Länder) and the municipal associations must be involved in the planning stages from the outset. He viewed the current developments as a positive first movement toward a joint, coordinated approach involving the federal government, the states, and local administrative bodies.
