German Interior Ministers Unite on Measures to Combat Knife Attacks, Organized Crime and Irregular Migration
At a recent conference in Bremerhaven, the Interior Ministers of German states agreed on joint measures to combat knife attacks, organized crime and irregular migration. Thuringia’s Interior Minister, Georg Maier, emphasized that despite the broad range of topics, a common line was found, with a particular focus on improving cooperation between the police and health authorities to identify potentially dangerous individuals earlier.
Another key area of focus was the handling of hybrid threats, such as cyber espionage and sabotage by foreign states. Maier called for a stronger democracy, without providing specific details and the states also demanded an expansion of the list of safe countries of origin and more deportation flights, particularly to Afghanistan.
The conference also supported the use of electronic ankle bracelets for the protection of victims of domestic violence, with Thuringia already planning a corresponding legal basis in the Police Tasks Act. The Interior Ministers also aim to expand the capacities for surveillance and improve cooperation between the federal government and the states.