The EU deals with a broad range of home affairs issues. As part of Germany’s Council Presidency, the Federal Ministry of the Interior is chairing more than 40 Council bodies and organising informal events that cover the entire spectrum of issues it works on. The ministry’s motto for its activities during the Presidency is "Together in Europe – Together for Europe".

The Federal Ministry of the Interior has chosen the following areas of focus:

Living together in a strong society

The coronavirus crisis has demonstrated once again that Europe must be strong and resilient. That is why the Federal Government is working to improve EU crisis management. This means strengthening the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and continuing to develop rescEU. We want to move forward with the development and expansion of a Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network during Germany’s Council Presidency on the basis of a proposal from the European Commission.

The Federal Government believes firmly that Europe must remain a place that brings together the different interests and needs of its people. For this reason, bolstering social cohesion is a priority for the German Presidency.

Integration is another focus within this area. In this context, the Federal Ministry of the Interior is organising an Informal Meeting of Integration Ministers and striving for active exchange about strategies and structures to combat antisemitism and antigypsyism comprehensively. This also includes the ministry’s work on behalf of resilient urban development.

Resolving European migration issues together

Managing migration and dealing with refugees are crucial questions for the future of Europe which require convincing answers. That is why we want to press ahead with reforming the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) based on the principles of solidarity and responsibility.

We also need visible improvement in the area of returns in particular. Returns following border procedures should be understood as a task for Europe as a whole. The EU agencies, in particular Frontex, must play a central role as well.

Ultimately, possibilities for legal migration also need to be considered as part of a comprehensive approach in order to relieve the pressure that irregular migration is exerting on the EU and to manage migration better overall.

Working together to provide security for all

Europe must remain a place where people can live in freedom and safety. Maintaining public security and order through closer police cooperation is of utmost importance, especially during and after crises. In the framework of a European police partnership, the Federal Government therefore supports more intensive cross-border police cooperation in the Schengen area; it also supports the expansion of Europol into a true central office for the European police.

Intense efforts to combat Islamist terrorism should continue. The Federal Ministry of the Interior is also working to move forward with the joint analysis of national threat assessments and the resulting lists of persons considered a potential terrorist threat.

The Federal Government will focus particular attention on combating right-wing terrorism and violent right-wing extremism. In particular, a better analysis of EU-wide networking is needed.