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Home , Alexander Throm, Alliance 90, Andrea Lindholz, Armin Schuster, Benjamin Strasser, Bernd Baumann

The Committee on Internal Affairs and Community 2 “Security and freedom are guaran- teed in by a state which upholds and defends the rule of law and by a pluralist democracy. This fundamental order forms the basis for our work to achieve secure future prospects for our community and our cultural iden- tity in the 21st century. A Europe which is capable of taking action and which is united in diversity remains essential, including from the perspective of internal affairs, so that effective decisions can be taken in the fight against crime and terrorism, in the management of migration or in the digital sphere.”

Andrea Lindholz, CDU/CSU Chairwoman of the Committee on Internal Affairs and Community

3 The German ’s decisions are prepared by its committees, which are estab- lished at the start of each elec- toral term. Four of them are stipulated by the Basic Law, the German constitution: the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Defence Committee, the Committee on the Affairs of the and the Petitions Committee. The Budget Committee and the Committee for the Rules of Procedure are also required by law. The spheres of respon- sibility of the committees essentially reflect the Federal Government’s distribution of ministerial portfolios. This enables Parliament to scruti- nise the government’s work effectively.

The Bundestag committees The German Bundestag sets political priorities of its own by establishing additional committees for specific sub- jects, such as sport, cultural affairs or tourism. In addition, special bodies such as parlia- mentary advisory councils, The committees discuss and committees of inquiry or deliberate on items referred study commissions can also to them by the plenary. They be established. The commit- also have to take up tees are composed of mem- issues on their own initiative, bers of all the parliamentary allowing them to set priorities groups, reflecting the balance in the parliamentary debate. of these groups in the German When necessary, they draw Bundestag. The distribution on external expertise – usu- of the chairs and deputy ally by holding public hear- chairs among the parliamen- ings. At the end of a commit- tary groups also reflects their tee’s deliberations, a majority relative strengths in the ple- of its members adopt a recom- nary. In the current electoral mendation for a decision and term, the committees have a report, which serve as the between nine and 49 mem- basis for the plenary’s deci- bers. sion.

5 The Committee on Internal Affairs and Community deals with all policy issues which traditionally fall under the heading of internal affairs. These include internal secu- rity, migration and integration, civil protection and disaster preparedness and prevention, but also data protection, digi- tal security or the modernisa- tion of the federal administra- tion. The inclusion of the term “community” (Heimat) in the Committee’s name underlines the fact that efforts to boost social cohesion and promote equal living condi- tions in Germany are a key priority for internal-affairs policy in the current electoral term.

The Committee on Internal Affairs and Community The Committee makes a major contribution to ensuring inter- nal security, promoting social cohesion, upholding the con- stitution and fostering the peaceful coexistence of peo- ple of different religions and cultures. Consequently, the Committee faces major chal- internal security. The Com- lenges. With 46 members, mittee’s agenda also regularly chaired by features reports on the protec- (CDU/CSU), it is also one of tion of the constitution and the Bundestag’s largest com- police-recorded crime statis- mittees. Besides deliberating tics. In addition, the Commit- on bills and motions, one of tee receives reports from the its most important tasks is to Federal Statistical Office, the ensure parliamentary scrutiny Federal Commissioner for of the work of the Federal Data Protection and the Con- Ministry of the Interior, Build- stituency Boundaries Com- ing and Community. To this mission, on the basis of which end, the Committee deals it draws up recommendations with Federal Government for action for the Federal Gov- reports on matters such as ernment.

16 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CDU/CSU 10 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SPD 6 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ AfD 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FDP 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ Party 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ /The Greens 1 ■ Non-attached Member

Number of members: 46 Chairwoman: Andrea Lindholz, CDU/CSU Deputy Chairman: , AfD

7 Affairs and Community is the lead committee. It also exam- ines bills on which other com- mittees are taking the lead, but which touch on its area of responsibility. This applies to The Committee has a heavy important items of business workload. In every week relating to the fight against when the Bundestag is sitting, crime and corruption, for the Members have to grapple example. with a large number of topics. Regulations at European level, This does not simply mean such as the EU General Data reading Bundestag printed Protection Regulation or a papers. The Members can also joint European IT security draw on the expertise of aca- strategy, are becoming more demics and practitioners and more important. The at public hearings on subjects Committee therefore requests such as facilitating labour- regular briefings from the market access for asylum Federal Government on the seekers, citizenship issues meetings of the European or the residents’ registration Union's Justice and Home system. The agenda is not Affairs Council. In addition, limited to topics for which the Committee has to examine the Committee on Internal a growing number of docu-

8 The board of trustees of the Federal Agency for Civic Education

The board of trustees of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, bpb) is attached to the Committee on Internal Affairs and Commu- nity. The board, which consists ments from the Council, the of 22 Members of Parliament, or the monitors and supports the European Commission and work of the Federal Agency for decide whether and how the Civic Education. Above all, it Bundestag’s position should scrutinises whether the bpb is be fed into the European deci- providing information effec- sion-making process. In cer- tively, independently and in a tain cases, the Committee politically balanced manner. contacts the relevant EU Com- For example, the Director of missioners direct, for example the Agency transmits the bpb’s with regard to the joint Secu- draft annual budget and its rity Union or the reform of the planning and activity reports to Common European Asylum the board of trustees to give it System. an opportunity to comment.

9 The Director also informs the board of trustees of all signifi- cant plans. The Federal Agency trustees in line with their rela- for Civic Education has the task tive strengths in Parliament. of promoting understanding of On their proposal, the mem- political issues, reinforcing bers of the board of trustees are democratic awareness and appointed by the President of encouraging participation in the Bundestag at the start of politics. To this end, the bpb each electoral term. cooperates nationwide with regional centres for civic edu- Security, civil rights and cation, educational institutions integration – the Committee’s and educational providers. work in practice The bpb is an executive agency of the Federal Ministry of the Important issues continue to Interior, Building and Commu- feature on the agenda of the nity, and so the board of trus- Committee on Internal Affairs tees is attached to the Commit- and Community in the current tee on Internal Affairs and electoral term. The Committee Community. The parliamentary members continuously engage groups in the Bundestag are with issues relating to immigra- represented on the board of tion to Germany. Integration

10 and migration issues and the EU’s policy on refugees are among the subjects which are regularly discussed. Important public hearings of experts are planned, not least on these top- ics. The Committee will also continue in future to promote This is only a small selection of and scrutinise international the many topics dealt with by cooperation on tackling terror- the Committee. Finally, the ism and organised crime. In Federal Government regularly addition, the effectiveness and briefs the Committee on the proportionality of the wide- work of the German security ranging counterterrorism and authorities. The first commu- security laws introduced in nity report announced by the view of the growing threat Federal Government will also posed by international terror- cover a wide range of topics to ism are under constant review. be discussed by the Committee. Network security and integrity In this context, combating anti- is not just a recurring topic but, Semitism and racism is an due to cyberattacks, an increas- essential element in strength- ingly sensitive one. ening social cohesion.

11 12 13 Andrea Lindholz, Jochen Haug, CDU/CSU AfD Chairwoman Deputy Chairman Lawyer, Lawyer, b. 25 Sep. 1970 b. 11 Jan. 1973 in ; in Aulendorf; married; one child. unmarried. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2017

Committee members The 46 members of the Committee on Internal Affairs and Community

14 , Michael Brand, , CDU/CSU CDU/CSU CDU/CSU Political scientist Employee, Lawyer, (M.A.), b. 19 Nov. 1973 b. 10 Nov. 1992 b. 8 Feb. 1984 in Fulda; in Ueckermünde. in (Saale). married; three children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2017 since 2005

Hans-Jürgen Irmer, , CDU/CSU , CDU/CSU Senior grammar school CDU/CSU Lawyer, teacher, Lawyer, b. 1 June 1976 b. 20 Feb. 1952 b. 16 Mar. 1972 in Münster; in Limburg a.d. Lahn; in ; married; one child. married; two children. married; four children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2017 since 2017

15 Dr , CDU/CSU Axel Müller, , CDU/CSU spokesman CDU/CSU CDU/CSU on internal affairs Former presiding Industrial clerk, Lawyer, regional court judge, b. 12 Dec. 1965 b. 14 Dec. 1964 b. 24 July 1963 in Schleswig; in Osnabrück. in Esslingen am Neckar. married; two children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2009 since 2017 since 2017

Armin Schuster, CDU/CSU CDU/CSU spokesman , on the Committee , CDU/CSU Public administration CDU/CSU Public administration specialist, Lawyer, specialist, b. 20 May 1961 in b. 15 Aug. 1962 b. 4 Jan. 1971 Andernach am Rhein; in Euskirchen; in Zell (Mosel). married; one child. married; one child. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2009 since 2009

16 , CDU/CSU , , Public administration CDU/CSU CDU/CSU specialist and Lawyer, Sociologist, Master of Laws (LL.M.), b. 8 Sep. 1968 b. 4 Dec. 1974 b. 9 June 1985 in ; in ; in Torgau; married; two children. married; three children. unmarried. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2017 since 2013

Uli Grötsch, Professor , SPD , SPD Police officer, SPD IT specialist, b. 14 July 1975 University professor, b. 28 Aug. 1961 in Weiden in der b. 24 Feb. 1974 in ; Oberpfalz; in . married; three children. married; two children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2013 since 2013

17 , SPD , , Organisational SPD SPD consultant, Editor, Public administration b. 7 July 1977 b. 18 Apr. 1963 specialist (M.A.), in ; in ; b. 4 Mar. 1987 in ; married. married; one child. married. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2013 since 2017

Burkhard Lischka, SPD SPD spokesman on the , Committee and spokes- , SPD man on internal affairs SPD Research assistant, Lawyer, Police officer, b. 6 Dec. 1976 b. 1 Feb. 1965 b. 25 July 1958 in in ; in Marsberg; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; unmarried. married; two children. one child. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2009 since 2013

18 Dr , AfD AfD spokesman Mahmut Özdemir, Dr , on the Committee SPD AfD and spokesman on Trainee lawyer (on Clerk, internal affairs leave of absence), b. 31 Jan. 1958 Mathematician, b. 23 June 1987 in Wanne-Eickel; physicist, in Duisburg. married. b. 2 Sep. 1960 in Berlin. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2017 since 2017

Lars Herrmann, , AfD AfD Dr Christian Wirth, Police officer, Police officer, AfD b. 12 Apr. 1977 b. 11 Jan. 1971 Lawyer, in Leisnig; in Hechingen; b. 27 Apr. 1963 married; three children. unmarried; one child. in Neunkirchen (Saar). Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2017 since 2017

19 , , Manuel Höferlin, FDP FDP FDP FDP spokesman on Political scientist, IT entrepreneur, internal affairs b. 22 Oct. 1968 in b. 6 Feb. 1973 in Paris; Lawyer, ; married; three children. b. 11 Feb. 1989 married; three children. Bundestag Member in Wolfenbüttel. Bundestag Member from 2009 to 2013 Bundestag Member from 2009 to 2013 and since 2017 since 2017 and since 2017

Linda Teuteberg, FDP , FDP spokeswoman on FDP the Committee Dr André Hahn, Lawyer, Lawyer, The Left Party b. 9 Feb. 1987 b. 22 Apr. 1981 Teacher, in Weingarten; in Königs Wuster- b. 20 Apr. 1963 unmarried. hausen; married. in Berlin. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2017 since 2013

20 , The Left Party The Left Party spokes- woman on the Commit- tee and spokeswoman on internal affairs , , Socio-economist/ The Left Party The Left Party journalist, Teacher, Research assistant, b. 9 June 1951 b. 9 Aug. 1963 b. 11 Mar. 1967 in Hamburg. in Berlin; in Mainz; Bundestag Member married. married; two children. from 1990 to 2002 Bundestag Member Bundestag Member and since 2005 since 1998 since 2013

Dr , Alliance 90/The Greens , Alliance 90/The Greens Dr Konstantin Alliance 90/The Greens spokeswoman on inter- von Notz, Islamic studies nal affairs Alliance 90/The Greens specialist, Police officer, Lawyer, b. 17 Oct. 1984 b. 17 Nov. 1976 b. 21 Jan. 1971 in ; in Waldbröl; in Mölln; married. married; two children. married. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2013 since 2013 since 2009

21 , Alliance 90/The Greens Alliance 90/The Greens Dr , spokeswoman on the Non-attached Member Committee Chemist, Economist, b. 1 June 1975 b. 11 July 1978 in ; in . married; five children. Bundestag Member Bundestag Member since 2017 since 2017

22 23 Information online

The Committee on Internal Affairs and Community www.bundestag.de/en/committees/a04

The Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community www.bmi.bund.de/EN

The Federal Agency for Civic Education www.bpb.de

The Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information www.bfdi.bund.de

24 Contact details for the Committee Secretariat

Deutscher Bundestag Ausschuss für Inneres und Heimat Platz der Republik 1 11011 Berlin Tel.: +49 30 227-32858 Fax: +49 30 227-36994 or -76875 Email: [email protected]

25 Published by: German Bundestag, Public Relations Division Coordination: Robert Schönbrodt Texts: Georgia Rauer; revised by: Committees Directorate (p. 4 – 5), Secretariat of the Committee on Internal Affairs and Community (p. 6 – 25) Edited by: Marianne Wollenweber Translated by: Language Service of the German Bundestag, in cooperation with Emma Hardie Design: Marc Mendelson Bundestag eagle: Created by Professor Ludwig Gies, revised in 2008 by büro uebele Photos: p. 2 Deutscher Bundestag (DBT) / Linus Lintner Fotografie; p. 8–9, 11, 12–13 DBT / Thomas Trutschel / photothek; p. 10, 23 DBT / Thomas Imo / photothek; p. 27 DBT / studio kohlmeier Portrait photos: p. 3, 14 Tobias Koch (Andrea Lindholz); p. 14 Annette Six (Jochen Haug); p. 15 Tobias Koch (Philipp Amthor); Christoph Jahn (Chris- toph Bernstiel); Michael Brand / Tobias Koch (Michael Brand); teamfoto Marquardt GmbH (Marc Henrichmann); DBT / Stella von Saldern (Hans- Jürgen Irmer); Michael Kuffer / NIKKY MAIER photo (Michael Kuffer); p. 16 Dr Mathias Middelberg / Hermann Pentermann (Mathias Middelberg); Jan Kopetzky (Axel Müller); Schleswig Holstein branch of the CDU / Sebas- tian Busse (Petra Nicolaisen); Josef Oster / Jan Kopetzky (Josef Oster); / Laurence Chaperon (Armin Schuster); DBT / Thomas Köhler / pho- tothek (Detlef Seif); p. 17 DBT / Julia Nowak (Alexander Throm); Christoph de Vries (Christoph de Vries); Marian Wendt / Jan Kopetzky (Marian Wendt); DBT / Thomas Köhler / photothek (Lars Castellucci); DBT / Thomas Köhler / photothek (Saskia Esken); DBT / Inga Haar (Uli Grötsch); p. 18 SPD party executive / Susie Knoll (Sebastian Hartmann); SPD party executive / Susie Knoll (Gabriela Heinrich); DBT / Julia Nowak (Elisabeth Kaiser); DBT / Thomas Köhler / photothek (Helge Lindh); Daniela Laske / (Burkhard Lischka); DBT / Julia Nowak (Susanne Mittag); p. 19 SPD party executive / Susie Knoll (Mahmut Özdemir); DBT / Stella von Saldern (Bernd Baumann); Gottfried Curio / Hagen Schnauss (Gottfried Curio); DBT / Achim Melde (); Martin Hess / Aikele advertising agency (Martin Hess); DBT / Achim Melde (Christian Wirth); p. 20 Christian Kuhlmann (Manuel Höferlin); Konstantin Kuhle / Miriam Merkel (Konstan- tin Kuhle); Jimmy Schulz / Sanjar Khaksari (Jimmy Schulz); Tanja Ruetz (Benjamin Strasser); / Karoline Wolf (Linda Teuteberg); André Hahn / Thomas Kläber (André Hahn); p. 21 The Left Party parliamen- tary group (Ulla Jelpke); TRIALON / Thomas Kläber (Petra Pau); DBT / Inga Haar (Martina Renner); Luise Amtsberg / Christine Hahn (Luise Amtsberg); Irene Mihalic / Stefan Kaminski (Irene Mihalic); DBT / Thomas Köhler / pho- tothek (); p. 22 DBT / Julia Nowak (Filiz Polat); Dr Frauke Petry / Stefan Pick (Frauke Petry) Graphic: p. 7 Marc Mendelson Printed by: Druckhaus Waiblingen Remstal-Bote GmbH As at: July 2018 © Deutscher Bundestag, Berlin All rights reserved. This publication has been produced as part of the German Bundestag’s public relations activities. It is provided free of charge and is not intended for sale. It may not be used for election campaign purposes or utilised by parties or parliamentary groups in their own public relations activities. 27 The German Bundestag takes decisions on what are at times highly complex and controversial bills and parliamentary initiatives relating to the entire spectrum of policy fields. The committees play a central role in parliamentary deliberations. They are the forum where the Members thrash out compromises and draw on expert advice before submitting their reports and recommen­dations for decisions to be voted on by the Bundestag as a whole. www.bundestag.de/en/committees