Federal Minister Nancy Faeser took part in the meeting of the French Cabinet on 13 March 2024. On that occasion, she and French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin emphasised their intention to increase their countries’ cooperation to ensure security for UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in France.

Nancy Faeser, Federal Minister of the Interior and Community: “The European men’s football championship in Germany and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris will bring millions of people from all over the world together for big, joyous festivals of sport. Security for these events is our highest priority. And we will provide security together. We are planning close cooperation between our police forces, for example using joint police units and patrols on trains travelling between Germany and France. “We work very closely together to prevent hybrid threats and protect against terrorism. I am very grateful to our French friends, our good neighbours, for their friendship and the strong partnership between France and Germany.”

Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior and the Overseas of the French Republic: “France and Germany share a long history. This year, our two countries are hosting two major sporting events: the European football championship, which is the fifth largest sporting event in the world, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which together are the largest sporting event in the world. And with our extensive expertise, I am sure they will all be a great success. We will rely on our experience and our usual excellent cooperation: our joint European patrols, the French-German Operational Unit, which is responsible for maintaining public order during major events, and the Joint German–French Service Unit, which is specialised in combating illegal immigration. These are the cornerstones of our cooperation – cooperation our two countries know they can always count on.”

Germany and France have once again affirmed their close partnership on the basis of applicable European Union law, in particular the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement and Council Decision 2008/615/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation. As a result, each country will provide security personnel to the other as available and on the basis of the applicable law.

The French-German Operational Unit (DFEE), which is one example of the excellent cooperation between France and Germany, will be deployed for EURO 2024 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The unit was created in 2019 and consists of teams of officers from Germany’s Federal Police and France’s Gendarmerie nationale who work together to provide support at major political and sporting events and large-scale disasters and accidents. The Joint German–French Service Unit (GDFD) will be deployed in the border region around the Strasbourg/Kehl metro area. The GDFD has been operational since 4 October 2021. It is made up of 12 officers from each country and is intended to fight illegal immigration and cross-border crime in the French départment Bas-Rhin and the rural district of Ortenau in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg.

In addition, joint patrols on trains travelling between Paris and Stuttgart via Strasbourg and between Paris and Frankfurt via Saarbrücken will be intensified to monitor cross-border passenger transport. Lastly, French police officers will be seconded to Germany to assist their German counterparts, particularly during matches in which the French national team is playing.

During the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games in France, the Federal Republic of Germany will second Federal Police officers to guard the German House and the German Sport Festival in Stade Jean Bouin in Paris, to support the work of the French police. Germany will send additional personnel to assist the French authorities in securing public areas; the details are still being discussed.

Germany and France have also emphasised their intention to work together to prevent hybrid threats and cyber crime, including disinformation, related to these sporting events.

Federal Minister Faeser and Minister Darmanin also discussed the importance of greater European cooperation on security, in particular to fight organised crime.