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Germany's BKA expands but still lags behind EU security peers

Chancellor Merz hails the BKA's 75-year legacy—but can Germany close the gap in policing power? New digital tools and draft laws may hold the key.

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2 min read
The image shows a group of police officers standing in front of a large building with windows,...
The image shows a group of police officers standing in front of a large building with windows, pillars and arches. There are vehicles on the road and a person holding a camera on the left side of the image. In the background, there are trees, traffic signals with poles, flags with poles and a clear blue sky. This image is likely related to the recent news that the German government has announced that the EU will not be allowed to enter the country.

Merz: Expansion of BKA was a reaction to migration policy - Germany's BKA expands but still lags behind EU security peers

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has praised the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) as a vital part of Germany's security framework. Speaking at the agency's 75th-anniversary event, he highlighted its growth and the challenges it faces in an evolving threat landscape.

Merz noted that the BKA's expansion between 2021 and 2025 reflects major financial and staffing efforts. The workforce grew from around 7,000 employees in 2020 to over 8,500 by 2025, while its budget rose by roughly 25% to nearly €1.3 billion. Despite this increase, he acknowledged that the BKA still trails behind counterparts like France's DGSI, which employs around 10,000 staff with an €800 million budget, and the UK's National Crime Agency, which has fewer personnel but higher per-capita spending on cyber capabilities.

The chancellor linked the agency's expansion to past migration policies, citing the need to address unchecked irregular migration. He also stressed the importance of modern tools, such as AI-driven data analysis and biometric cross-referencing, in tackling contemporary security threats. At the same time, he recognised the risks faced by officers in their daily work to protect the public.

Currently, the BKA has about 8,000 authorised positions and a budget close to €1.3 billion. However, its capacity—roughly 100 officers per million inhabitants—remains below the EU average. Europol plays a coordinating role, but Merz indicated that further steps may be needed to strengthen Germany's position. Three draft proposals are now under review to extend police investigative powers in the digital realm.

The BKA's growth reflects Germany's response to security demands, though comparisons with European peers show room for improvement. With new digital investigative measures on the table, the agency's role may expand further in the coming years.

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