Apollo News reports, citing Handelsblatt, that according to the German Ministry of Interior, the Advent and Christmas season is of “particular importance from a security perspective.”
For years now, the festive markets in Germany have been considered “particularly high-risk” events because of their central locations, large crowds, and open access. Federal and state security authorities continuously assess upcoming events from a security standpoint, but the specific measures are the responsibility of the police, financed by the local authorities.
On Tuesday, November 17th, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for unified standards for Christmas market security plans, supporting efforts to coordinate and harmonise these concepts. At the same time, he said he was “saddened” that even smaller Christmas markets now require comprehensive security measures.
Although the financial burden of ensuring security falls on local authorities, the Interior Ministry told Handesblatt it can still provide support, including “technical protection against vehicle attacks and terrorist attacks using vehicles.”
However, stricter security requirements also mean higher costs. For example, the Christmas market in Kerpen, which opens on November 28, has rebranded itself as an “Advent Gourmet Market” this year in order to avoid rising regulatory costs. Otherwise, the Aktionsgemeinschaft Kolpingstadt Kerpen—funded by membership fees—would not have been able to cover the expenses. In Cologne, technical restrictions and personnel costs have increased by €200,000 compared to last year, bringing this year’s total to roughly €1.1 million.
