GERMANY Law and Practice Contributed by: Rainer Wilke, Ingo Theusinger and Ralph Schilha, Noerr
• The BBK expressly promotes co-operation between public and private sectors in relation to civil protection. It develops concepts and programmes that facilitate the involvement of private companies in crisis prevention and management. • The federal government of Germany’s “Dis- aster Risk Management in and by Germany” ( Katastrophenrisikomanagement in und durch Deutschland ) initiative (KatRiMa) provides detailed information on actors, strategies, instruments or best practices for disaster risk management in and by Germany. As KatRiMa is a participatory information platform, this information is provided by the respective stakeholders, compiled in co-operation with them and/or on the basis of publicly acces- sible sources. • In Germany, PPP models in infrastructure and technology sectors can also be adapted for crisis situations. These partnerships allow for shared investment and risk management in projects that strengthen resilience, such as critical infrastructure development and maintenance. • The BSI collaborates with private compa- nies to enhance cybersecurity resilience against threats that could escalate into crises. Information-sharing initiatives and joint exercises are part of this co-operative frame- work, ensuring that critical infrastructures are protected and prepared. • Agreements between the THW and private logistics companies are in place to provide support during disasters. This ensures that logistical capabilities are immediately availa- ble to transport essential goods and services during emergencies. • In sectors such as energy and finance, specific alliances exist to prepare for and respond to crises. These alliances often involve contingency planning, joint simula-
tions and communication protocols to mini- mise disruption and facilitate a swift recovery. One sector-specific alliance in Germany is the so-called Energiepartnerschaft (Energy Part- nership) framework. This initiative involves co-operation between public authorities, energy companies and industry associations to address energy security, grid stability, and crisis preparedness. By uniting key stakehold- ers, the Energy Partnership aims to ensure that Germany’s energy sector can effectively manage crises and transition towards more sustainable energy sources. 2.8 National Crisis Management Plan Germany has a national crisis management pol- icy framework that is structured to address vari- ous types of crises. This framework is anchored in several laws and regulations as well as in the crisis management developed at federal and state level. The national crisis management plan is divided into several stages: prevention, preparation, response and recovery. It includes co-ordination between various state institutions, such as the BBK and other relevant authorities at state and local level. It is implemented through regular exercises, training and assessments to ensure that the agencies involved can work together effectively. 2.9 Inter-Agency Co-Operation The BMI supervises crisis management and co-ordinates with other ministries (such as the Federal Ministry of Health) during health crises. Central to this is the federal government’s cri- sis team, which unites relevant ministries and authorities for a co-ordinated approach when necessary. At the operational level, situation centres in ministries, such as the BBK, are
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