The Russian war of aggression also threatens German security in the digital space.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The funds contained in the 100 billion euro special fund for upgrading the Bundeswehr should probably also benefit cyber defense. Representatives of various parliamentary groups have confirmed this to the Handelsblatt.
Nadine Schön, CDU digital politician, justified the position with a high level of dynamism in the cyber area, which required better resilience. “New measures and resources for the cyber security structure and cyber defense must be explicitly anchored in the federal government’s 100 billion package,” demanded Schön.
The Union parliamentary group is involved in passing the special fund, since this is to be enshrined in the Basic Law and a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag is required for constitutional amendments.
On Wednesday, however, the Union announced that it would initially reject the draft for a corresponding amendment to the Basic Law presented by the traffic light. “The wording presented ‘to strengthen alliance and defense capability’ also allows for other uses,” said housekeeper Mathias Middelberg, explaining the move.
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It must be clear that the 100 billion euros would go entirely to the Bundeswehr and its equipment. Digital politician Schön therefore warned that cyber defense should also be precisely defined as to which areas would have to be specifically funded by the billion-euro package.
Greens support Union push
The Greens also agreed to the initiative to use the special funds for cyber security. “In my opinion, it is very relevant to always think about the digital aspect of the current measures to increase security,” said Maik Außendorf, spokesman for digital policy for the Greens in the Bundestag, to the Handelsblatt.
The Greens campaigned for a broad understanding of the security of the special fund; the exact design of which must “now be discussed by the government, parliament and coalition,” said Außendorf.
However, SPD circles say that cybersecurity areas should only be strengthened within the Bundeswehr with the help of the special fund. Funding for civil defense and disaster control, for example, is not planned.
Russia flanked its military attack on Ukraine with targeted cyber attacks and also raised concerns in Germany about its ability to defend itself in the digital sphere. Both targeted attacks and collateral damage in Germany from cyber attacks on Ukraine are considered a threat to the security of critical infrastructure, among other things. On Wednesday, cyber security was also a topic in the digital committee of the Bundestag.
More: After a cyber attack on Rosneft: BSI warns the oil industry of further attacks