At the autumn conference of federal and state interior ministers, Nancy Faeser wants to send a strong signal against Islamism and anti-Semitism. Your counterparts are putting pressure on the issue of migration.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) announced a “tough approach” against Islamists and anti-Semites at the Interior Ministers Conference (IMK) starting on Wednesday evening. “We have an increased threat situation, particularly from Islamist terrorism,” she told t-online. “We are seeing increasing calls for attacks in the jihadist spectrum. Right now, Islamist threats must be kept a close eye on and further radicalization processes must be stopped.”
Since the “barbaric terrorist attacks” by Hamas on Israel on October 7th, the federal and state governments have acted immediately and in close coordination, Faeser continued. “For me, the central theme of this conference of interior ministers is to continue to act together against the increasing Islamist terrorist threat and against the disgusting hatred towards Jews and Israel.” The IMK must also send a clear signal: “Jewish life is under the special protection of our state. We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of Jews in our country.”
A strong response from the constitutional state to anti-Semitic crimes and terrorist propaganda is needed, said Faeser. “This includes a whole package of measures: quick and consistent criminal prosecution, expulsions of Islamists without a German passport, tough intervention in anti-Semitic incidents at demonstrations and – if necessary – bans on gatherings, the dismantling of structures and increased prevention work.”
Concern about attacks is currently great across Europe. In her own words, EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson sees an “enormous risk of terrorist attacks” in the upcoming holiday season. She spoke of a “polarization” in society caused by the war between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas.
Demand: extend border controls to six months
The Interior Ministers’ Conference will meet from Wednesday evening. Guest contributions from Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, have also been announced.
But it is not just Islamism, anti-Semitism and terrorism that will concern the federal and state interior ministers there. The agenda is long with dozens of program items. The issue of migration will also be an issue – and here Union-led countries are putting pressure on Minister Faeser.
The reason: Faeser ordered controls at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland in mid-October. At the beginning of the week she extended it until December 15th. From the point of view of her Saxon counterpart Armin Schuster (CDU), that is not enough: he is calling for the controls to be extended to six months.
Faeser has to come down from her 14-day extension rhythm, Schuster said on Tuesday. He doesn’t feel like having to answer the question every week about what will happen when the controls expire in 14 days. With a view to the Interior Ministers’ Conference, Schuster spoke of his colleagues’ “clear expectations” of Faeser.
Football clubs share in the costs of high-risk games?
The security situation during the 2024 European Football Championship is also on the program of the autumn conference. Lower Saxony’s Interior Minister Daniela Behrens wants to initiate a discussion about “a possible cost contribution by clubs for police operations surrounding high-risk games,” she told t-online. The aim must be to explore “what we can do politically to significantly reduce the violent clashes surrounding the games”.
