Cologne’s mayor, Torsten Burmester (SPD), announced a city‑wide initiative that will involve Germany’s largest municipalities in tackling drug‑related problems at key hotspots.
In an interview with Focus, Burmester said, “We must first – and foremost – deal with the issue of micro‑trade: the prescription, distribution and sale of drugs in addiction centres. Legalising this is essential”. He added that a ban on drugs and the pressure to fight supply‑crime are wrong approaches. “What is needed is a shift in thinking, which requires a change in federal legislation”.
Burmester is already in discussion with other city leaders. “I am in agreement with my colleague from Düsseldorf, Stephan Keller (CDU), that both the federal government and the states must be involved in this matter” he said. The mayor pointed out that all large German cities face similar challenges. “Crack users have to consume every 30 minutes and are therefore under extreme pressure. We cannot leave these individuals alone in our parks and squares”.
In Cologne, a first step will be the establishment of a drug‑support centre near the Neumarkt hotspot.
Alongside these services, Burmester is advocating a zero‑tolerance policy in public spaces. “We will no longer tolerate storage, consumption and aggressive begging. We will increase police and municipal inspections to suppress public consumption and dealing”.