German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has yet to publicly announce a stance on a potential fireworks ban for New Year’s Eve. A ministry spokesperson, when asked by the German News Agency, stated, “A position by Minister Dobrindt has not been taken.”
Currently, the Explosives Act provides opportunities for states and municipalities to establish ban zones, for instance. A discussion is underway on whether to expand these possibilities, the spokesperson added, with a decision expected soon. It remains unclear whether the topic of a fireworks ban will be included on the agenda of the upcoming Interior Ministers’ Conference, set to take place in the coming week. If the topic is discussed, the Interior Minister will certainly participate.
The Berlin Police Union had recently called for the Interior Ministers to address the issue at their meeting in Bremerhaven, starting on June 11. The union launched an online petition in January, which had gathered nearly 2.1 million signatures by the beginning of June. The petition was sparked by the New Year’s Eve 2024/25, which saw at least five fatalities, hundreds of injuries and millions of dollars in damages in Germany, with rescue and response forces also being targeted and injured by fireworks.