Skipping the Fireworks Ban: Interior Ministers' Disagreement at Bremerhaven Conference
Gathering of Interior Ministers to Not Enforce Broad-Sweeping Restrictions - Proposal for a Directive on [specific topic] remains unfirmed by Commission
Gathered in the coastal city of Bremerhaven, federal and state interior ministers have shown reluctance towards significant restrictions on private New Year's fireworks. Contrary to proposals, there was no agreement on this topic during the spring conference.
Key advocates for expanding municipalities' power to regulate fireworks include Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg. The Explosives Act, as it stands, allows the use of pyrotechnics on December 31st and January 1st, yet requires special permits for their use on all other days.
Minister Behrens is Against a Broad Fireworks Ban
Lower Saxony's Interior Minister, Daniela Behrens (SPD), openly expressed her opposition to a general fireworks ban during the Bremerhaven meeting. Behrens acknowledges that the current legislation providing regions with the power to establish ban zones is sufficient. In major cities, this power is effectively utilized during New Year's, she notes. Similarly, even in rural areas, specific zones can be safeguarded around historical buildings like half-timbered structures or thatched-roof houses. It would be unfair to penalize responsible citizens due to the recklessness of a select few, focusing instead on identifying and punishing those instigating violence towards emergency services.
Petitions for A Fireworks Ban
Following the lead of the Berlin district of the Police Trade Union (GdP), a petition for a fireworks ban was initiated in early 2023 and has since garnered over two million signatures. Animal welfare groups and other organizations support a ban due to environmental concerns, such as fine dust pollution, citing the incident around the turn of the year 2024/2025, which led to five fatalities and numerous injuries and damages.
- Bremerhaven
- Fireworks ban
- New Year's fireworks
- Interior Ministers' Conference
- Daniela Behrens
- Pyrotechnics
- Berlin
- Bremen
- Hamburg
Additional Insights:
- The conference ended without agreement on implementing a fireworks ban, but SPD-led states, with the support of Interior Senator Iris Spranger in Berlin, are united in their efforts to allow regions to establish their own fireworks regulations[1].
- Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is planning discussions on potential amendments to explosives legislation, which may bring flexibility and diverse fireworks regulations across states[1].
- Despite the Bremerhaven Interior Ministers' Conference not reaching an agreement on a fireworks ban, SPD-led states, such as Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg, are unified in their goal to grant regions the authority to establish their own fireworks regulations.
- While there is no consensus on implementing a blanket fireworks ban, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has revealed plans for discussions on potential amendments to explosives legislation, with the aim of fostering flexibility and diverse fireworks regulations across different states.
