Government is planning to expand civil defense

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will welcome 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 pm local time (1600 GMT).

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

His victory was due to his pledge to fight corruption.

However, Radev is also known for his Eurosceptic and pro-Russian stance.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said the government plans to invest billions of euros in a program aimed at boosting Germany’s ability to protect its citizens in the event of conflict or disaster.

“We are strengthening population protection and civil protection,” Dobrindt told mass circulation. Picture In comments published by the newspaper on Monday.

The Bavarian conservative politician also said Germany was beefing up its response capabilities to hybrid threats and increasing support for volunteer emergency workers.

He said there will be tight integration of military and civil defense structures to enhance security and resilience.

The planned program would cost €10 billion ($11.6 billion), the newspaper reported, citing a cabinet draft.

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

The DW newsroom in Bonn says warmly good day For all users of Germany’s international broadcaster!

Join us as the German Chancellor prepares to speak with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.

The meeting could pose some diplomatic challenges for the German leader, as Radev is known for his Eurosceptic, pro-Russian stance, which is the exact opposite of what Germany advocates.

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

But after this incident, a major animal rights group has demanded the government to tighten the rules for keeping such wild animals, which they say is being done very laxly in Germany.

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