Enhanced Population Safeguarding in the 2025 Federal Budget
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) in Germany has announced a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing crisis prevention and population protection. Under the leadership of President Ralph Tiesler, the BBK is focusing on a comprehensive process to make Germany civil defense-capable by the end of this decade, adapting to the current threat situation.
The BBK is collaborating closely with states, municipal structures, volunteer forces, and professional deployment teams to implement these projects. One of the key initiatives is the "Henry 2.0" project, which combines innovative technology and sustainable energy to provide mobile cooling facilities for disaster management, boosting operational capabilities during emergencies.
Another significant focus is on improving the national warning system and supporting volunteers. This includes taking pension entitlements for volunteers into account, increasing legal penalties for attacks on helpers, and expanding training and education in crisis management. The BBK has also procured over 50 million medical masks in 2023 to maintain a robust stockpile for public and private sectors, ensuring readiness for health crises like pandemics.
The BBK is also working on innovative community alerting concepts, such as the 'Emergency bell ringing' initiative, which supplements gaps in the local siren network. Furthermore, the BBK is responsible for establishing civilian population protection as the fourth pillar of the national security system, alongside the police, military, and intelligence services.
The BBK is also planning pilot funding for the equipment of public places of refuge in the fiscal year 2026, with funds to be used for the long-term maintenance and improvement of the population warning system, including the MoWaS system, NINA warning app, cell broadcast, and siren network expansion. The funds will also be allocated to equip and technologically support deployment forces, from acquiring new vehicles for disaster protection to providing measuring technology for hazardous substances.
In addition to these projects, the BBK is expanding its training and further education in crisis management through the Federal Academy for Civil Protection and Civil Defense. The BBK's main place of service is in Bonn-Lengsdorf, with additional locations in Bonn, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, and Berlin.
The BBK's efforts to strengthen Germany's civil defense are a significant first step towards addressing various challenges, including extreme weather, major technical damage, and geopolitical tensions. The BBK advises and supports other federal and state authorities in fulfilling their tasks, and the federal and state governments are working on a modern shelter concept for effective civil defense. These initiatives demonstrate a broad focus on improving technological infrastructure, strengthening community and volunteer engagement, enhancing legal protections, and stockpiling essential resources to prevent and mitigate crises affecting the population in Germany.
The BBK is exploring strategic collaborations with finance and business sectors to secure funding for long-term maintenance and improvement of the population warning system, including the acquisition of needed technology and vehicles for disaster protection.
In the pursuit of making Germany's civil defense robust and inclusive, the BBK is considering proposals to incorporate the industry's expertise in enhancing the national warning system and streamlining operational capabilities during emergencies.
