Germany Approves €10 Billion Civil Protection Program Until 2029

The German federal government on Wednesday, May 22, approved an expanded civil defense program worth 10 billion euros, set to run until 2029. These funds will be allocated to strengthen civil protection and broader military expenditures.

According to Tagesschau, the 10 billion euros will be used, among other things, to purchase over 1,000 special vehicles and protective suits, as well as to modernize the mass alert network. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the plan would be based on Ukraine's experience, where a mobile application warns of Russian air attacks and urges people to seek shelter.

The Ministry of Interior also plans to establish a central dispatch center to coordinate work among state agencies. The program includes the modernization of protective facilities, ranging from Cold War-era bunkers to adapting everyday structures such as underground parking lots, tunnels, and subway stations. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt emphasized that «the 1980s concept, which never worked, must be discarded in modern security conditions.» He added that the new plan aims to improve protection in people's homes and ensure faster access to shelters in public places. According to government data, Germany currently has 579 shelters for approximately 480,000 people.

Earlier, Alexander Dobrindt announced that the funds would be used for additional equipment, buildings, personnel, and technology, particularly for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). It is worth noting that in April, the Belgian government also began implementing a four-year program to help the population prepare for emergencies amid geopolitical tensions and climate disasters.