The German Council of Ministers today approved a controversial civil defense plan with which Germany seeks to prepare the population against possible terrorist attacks, cyber attacks and threats against critical infrastructure such as water and energy.
With this new concept of civil defense, which suggests among its measures to revive the circumstances extraordinarias--in compulsory military service, removed five years ago, the German Government responds to the new security situation.
One of the main objectives is to better coordinate the various powers of the federal government, the states and municipalities and to avoid duplication of structures to achieve better gear in civil defense against possible emergencies.
The civil defense plan in force has more than twenty years and was drafted in a context of detente after the end of the Cold War, which adds many protective measures were reduced for cost reasons.
However, since then, the security situation has worsened considerably to the terrorist threat and tensions between the West and Russia.
The new concept, developed by Interior, with the approval of the other ministries involved, which include the Economy and Justice.
The Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, presented the new plan with the president of the Federal Office of Civil Defense, Christoph Unger, a central water supply in Berlin this afternoon.
During the site visit, the minister plans to inform on measures for the protection of sensitive infrastructure such as water supply and energy, vital for supplying the population.
Security experts fear that terrorists or even third states might attempt by cyber attacks threaten this type of infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the opposition called the coalition government of conservatives and social democrats Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to alarm the public by suggesting that make storing food and water to meet basic needs for a period of ten days.
According to a study by the Institute of Public Opinion Research released today by the newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", the Germans feel increasingly threatened by terrorism, but unwilling to sacrifice the individual lifestyle of a free society.
Thus, 77% of respondents considered high potential threat from radical Islamic groups, compared with 55% at the end of the last decade.
It has also significantly increased the percentage of Germans who consider participation in international measures to combat crime and terrorism one of the main objectives of German foreign policy.