Federal Council – BundesratKOMPAKT – Internal Security

Federal Council approves law to improve internal security and the asylum system

The Federal Council did not refer the law to improve internal security and the asylum system to the mediation committee and therefore approved it. This is the part of the so-called security package that did not require approval in the Bundesrat and was only recently passed by the Bundestag.

The legal package is a reaction of the government coalition in the Bundestag to the attack in Solingen in August 2024, according to the explanatory statement. Weapons law, combating terrorism and residence rights are particularly affected.

Tightening of gun laws

To own a weapon in Germany you need a permit. This is only granted if the reliability of the gun owner has been checked. In the future, the Federal Police and the Customs Criminal Investigation Office as well as the police stations of the applicant’s place of residence over the past 10 years will be involved in this background check in order to include the local authorities’ knowledge and to ensure that no relevant knowledge is lost even in the event of a move.

Knife bans

In the future, not only the carrying of weapons but also knives will be prohibited at public events, although the law provides for exceptions, for example in cases in which knives are carried while exercising their profession. The state governments are also authorized to ban the carrying of weapons and knives on certain public streets, paths and squares in places particularly affected by crime. Finally, the law contains a ban on switchblades regardless of the blade size, although exceptions are made here, for example for hunting.

Changes in asylum law

The law also stipulates that asylum seekers can have their protection status revoked if they have previously committed crimes with anti-Semitic, racist, sexist or other inhumane motivations. Traveling to your home country should also generally lead to the removal of your protection status, unless it is morally imperative.

The law also provides for reductions in benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act for certain cases in which another EU state is responsible for the asylum examination of the foreigner in question and has agreed to readmission.

Biometric data matching

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is responsible for securing the identity of asylum seekers. For this purpose, the law gives it the authority to biometrically compare publicly accessible data.

Come into effect

The law can now be drawn up and promulgated and comes into force on the day after promulgation

Stand: 18.10.2024