Germany news: Government plans civil defense expansion

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• Chancellor Merz is to host the newly elected Bulgarian prime minister for talks
• The government is planning to invest billions in a program aiming to better protect the population in the case of war or other catastrophes
• An animal rights group has called for stricter rules after a tiger escaped from a private facility near Leipzig, badly injuring a man

This is a roundup of the top stories from and about Germany on Monday, May 18, 2026: 

Skip next section Germany likely to miss 2030 climate goals, says independent panel05/18/2026May 18, 2026

Germany likely to miss 2030 climate goals, says independent panel

An independent climate advisory body has contradicted findings by the government's main climate authority showing Germany largely on track to meet its 2030 climate goals, saying the country will likely emit more CO2 than previously thought.

The Council of ‌Experts on Climate Change believes ​Germany could overshoot its CO2 emissions projections by up to 100 million metric tons (110 US tons).

That compares with the government's Environment Agency's prediction of a possible overshoot of just 4.5 million tons.

Germany has set itself the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% from 1990 levels by 2030 ​and to be climate neutral by 2045.

So far, the reduction ​is about ‌48%.

In March, the government put forward an €8 billion ($9.3 billion) plan to fund a range of climate measures, including expanding wind power and boosting sales of electric vehicles.

But the council's chair, Barbara Schlomann, said it believed "the program's actual reduction effect is likely to ​be significantly lower than assumed by the German government."

The Council of Experts on Climate Change is an independent scientific advisory panel established in September 2020 to monitor German climate policy. 

https://p.dw.com/p/5Du0oSkip next section Rights groups call for stricter rules following tiger's escape in Germany 05/18/2026May 18, 2026

Rights groups call for stricter rules following tiger's escape in Germany

Animal rights group PETA has called for rules on keeping dangerous wild animals to be tightened after a tiger escaped from a private facility near the eastern German city of Leipzig, seriously injuring a 73-year-old man.

 The federal government must finally act," Peter Höfgen, PETA's specialist adviser on wild animals, told the dpa news agency.

He told the agency the incident showed that keeping dangerous wild animals in private ownership or mobile operations was not safe enough.

Höfgen pointed out that private ownership of tigers and lions remained legal in several German states.

He also said that PETA had repeatedly warned authorities about deficiencies at the facility from which the tiger made its escape.  

The animal, which belonged to a well-known circus performer, was shot dead by police shortly after it broke out from its enclosure.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DtiZSkip next section Merz to host talks with Bulgaria's Radev05/18/2026May 18, 2026

Merz to host talks with Bulgaria's Radev

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is to receive the new Bulgarian prime minister, Rumen Radev, in Berlin on Monday afternoon.

Radev will be welcomed with military honors at the chancellery before the two leaders hold talks on issues including bilateral relations and European and international security policy.  

A joint press conference is planned for 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT).

Radev, a former Bulgarian president, won an absolute majority of 44.7% in April parliamentary elections in his country and was inaugurated as prime minister last week.

His victory came on the back of pledges to fight corruption.

Radev is, however, also known for his euroskeptic and pro-Russian stance.
      

https://p.dw.com/p/5DtWrSkip next section Dobrindt announces planned expansion of civil defense05/18/2026May 18, 2026

Dobrindt announces planned expansion of civil defense

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said the government plans to invest billions of euros in a program that aims to bolster Germany's capacity to protect its citizens in the case of conflict or catastrophe.

"We are strengthening population protection and civil defense," Dobrindt told the mass-circulation Bild newspaper in comments published on Monday.

The Bavarian conservative politician also said Germany was shoring up its response capabilities in the face of hybrid threats and increasing support for volunteer emergency workers.

He said there would be tighter integration of military and civilian defense structures to enhance security and resilience.

The newspaper reported that the planned program would be worth €10 billion ($11.6 billion), citing a Cabinet draft.

The funds would be used for additional equipment, buildings, personnel and technology, including for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW).

https://p.dw.com/p/5DtaUSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/18/2026May 18, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Timothy Jones | Rob Turner editor

The DW newsroom in Bonn says a warm guten Tag to all users of Germany's international broadcaster!

You join us as the German chancellor is set to hold talks with newly-elected Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.

The meeting might well hold some diplomatic challenges for the German leader, as Radev is known for his euroskeptic, pro-Russian stance, one very much opposed to that advocated by Germany.

A tiger that escaped from a private facility near Leipzig, badly injuring a handler in the process, made for sensational headlines on Sunday.

But the incident has led a prominent animal rights group to call on the government to tighten rules on holding such wild animals, which it says are much too lax in Germany.

You can find out more about these and other stories in our blog. Happy reading!

 

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