Following the terrorist attack in Solingen, the Federal Government has presented a package of security-related legislation, introducing two bills to the Bundestag today. When introducing the plans to the Bundestag, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said the legislation offered a clear response to current security issues. The package, she said, fulfils the fundamental promise of a free and democratic state to ensure the freedom and security of its citizens. The proposed legislation includes measures to tighten weapons law, to fight Islamism and to curb irregular migration. The security authorities are to be strengthened and already existing, well-functioning measures are to be expanded.

Protecting the freedom and security of the public

“We as the Federal Government are doing what is practically necessary and legally possible to ensure the security of people in Germany,” Faeser said. “We are expanding the tools of our resilient democracy to prevent, investigate and punish crimes.” The federal minister also referred to the border checks at all land borders that were ordered on Monday.

Measures taken under weapons law

The security package will make it easier for authorities to keep weapons away from extremists, terrorists and criminals and to confiscate their weapons. The measures to achieve this include improving information-sharing among the agencies involved. Weapons available without a permit should not end up in the wrong hands either. Because of the particular risk posed by knife attacks, the proposed legislation will ban knives at public gatherings such as local festivals. It will also empower the federal states to introduce such bans in places with especially high crime rates, such as train stations. Random checks are also to be permitted at such locations.

Strengthening security authorities

Security authorities are to be better equipped to combat terrorism, extremism and crime. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Police will be enabled to compare biometric data on faces and voices with online sources such as social networks, using computer technology. Federal Minister Faeser said, “This provides invaluable help in determining the locations of suspected terrorists and other suspects, in foiling their plans and in apprehending them. We are also establishing a legal basis for the security authorities to use automated processes to evaluate large volumes of data so that they can work better, faster and more efficiently.”

The proposed legislation will improve the authorities’ options for conducting financial investigations and will expand the powers of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). In order to more effectively combat terrorist financing, when the BKA requests banking information, it will be ensured that the individuals in question are not informed of the request prematurely.

Expulsion of non-citizen criminal offenders and individuals of national security concern

Federal Minister Faeser said: “Those who receive protection from our country cannot abuse this protection; if they do so, they must leave.” For this reason, the proposed legislation would make it easier to expel individuals who have committed crimes using weapons or other dangerous instruments. And those who commit crimes motivated by antisemitism, racism, homophobia or misogyny need to expect that they will be refused protection in Germany or that existing protection will be withdrawn. Additionally, whoever travels back to their home country while holding protected status will as a general rule lose this status.

Federal Government actions to date

Some measures to boost Germany’s security are already in effect. At the beginning of 2024, a comprehensive legislative package to increase and expedite returns went into effect. Since then, returns have increased by twenty per cent. The Federal Police are already refusing people entry at the border in cases where this is legally permitted.

The numbers of asylum applicants are also declining significantly. In August 2024, one-third fewer applications for asylum were filed than in August of the previous year. The digitalisation and speeding up of the asylum process is also continuing to progress. The implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) agreed in the EU is improving the checks at the EU’s external borders and is achieving a fair distribution among European countries.