German interior minister proposes domestic security shake-up

Deportations are now the responsibility of state authorities. De Maiziere called for better co-operation, suggesting federally run “departure centres” close to airports that could handle deportees in their “final days or weeks” in Germany.

Each state has its own branch of the domestic intelligence agency, in addition to its federal office. De Maiziere called for a discussion of putting it entirely under federal control, and also urged greater powers for the federal police to conduct traffic controls away from border areas.

At European Union level, de Maiziere advocated a “real mass-influx mechanism” to enable quicker handling of large numbers of migrants. He argued that countries should be considered safe if there’s a “safe place” there with “humane and safe reception conditions,” for example at facilities for which the EU could be partly responsible.

It’s unclear how much traction de Maiziere’s ideas will gain. A national election is expected in September and the conservatives’ main rivals, the centre-left Social Democrats, are part of the current governing coalition. Germany’s states, regardless of political colour, are reluctant to give up powers.

Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, the Social Democrats’ leader, questioned the wisdom of concentrating now on a major security restructuring.

He said he was concerned that “if we started with this, security authorities would be preoccupied with themselves for a few years rather than hunting criminals and terrorists.”

The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

German interior minister proposes domestic security shake-up

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