Because of the devastating floods in parts of Germany, civil protection is under massive pressure.
Now those responsible face the Interior Committee: Were there any omissions?
Berlin - After the severe weather disaster, the Interior Committee in the Bundestag meets today for a special session.
In addition to possible omissions by the authorities, the MPs want to talk about whether the federal government should do more for disaster protection in the future.
The management of acute disaster situations has so far been the responsibility of the federal states and municipalities.
For its part, the federal government has the task of protecting the population in the event of a defense.
Some experts consider this division to be out of date.
Committee questions Seehofer and Schuster
Information is provided by the members of the Committee of Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) and the President of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Aid (BBK), Armin Schuster.
In March you presented a concept for a realignment of the BBK, which provides for more intensive cooperation between the federal and state governments in the event of a crisis.
Schuster had already admitted errors in the system during the devastating flood disaster.
“That didn't go optimally,” said Schuster.
Persistent heavy rain led to floods in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia on July 14th.
At least 179 people died.
After the storm, there were allegations that people in the affected areas were not warned quickly enough.
Seehofer in particular was heavily criticized.
At the special meeting, the Greens would also have liked to question North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) and the Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Minister Roger Lewentz (SPD).
Mihalic for amendment of the Basic Law
In the afternoon, Green Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock and the domestic political spokeswoman for the Greens parliamentary group, Irene Mihalic, want to comment on the lessons of the flood disaster.
It should also be about possible changes in civil protection and disaster relief.
Mihalic had previously requested responsibility at the federal level for transnational or special situations.
"We know such a model in the police at the Federal Criminal Police Office, which also takes on a coordinating role in special situations," said Mihalic.
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief must take on this task.
Mihalic also considers an amendment to the Basic Law to reform civil protection to be essential.
“But we would like to see more commitment.
I predict that in the end we will need legal changes for this.
And that will not work without a change in the Basic Law, ”she told the editorial network Germany (RND / Monday).
Mützenich warns of increased risk
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich meanwhile called on the federal states to participate in a joint development fund to protect against future disasters.
"Nobody should pretend that they will be spared from such dramatic weather events in the future," said Mützenich to the RND.
The changed climate increases the risk for all federal states of being hit as it is now the case in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
The question of what consequences should now be drawn in terms of disaster control must be carefully weighed up.
Also whether there is a need for more federal competence in certain areas.
This also includes where and how the warning systems should be readjusted.
"It has to get better in any case, but you don't break such decisions over your knees," said Mützenich.
Construction help in further planning
Last Wednesday, the federal government decided to provide emergency aid of initially 200 million euros. The affected countries want to contribute more rapid funds in the same amount. A construction fund worth billions is also planned. After the flood disaster of 2013, the federal government and all federal states jointly financed the expensive reconstruction. Several federal states had already indicated their willingness to support the reconstruction aid. dpa
