German Budget Committee cuts funding for civil sea rescue operations – Federal Government is shirking its responsibility

Despite massive criticism from civil society and politicians, the Bundestag’s Budget Committee decided yesterday to completely cut funding for civil sea rescue. This means that the previous support of two million euros per year, which had been supporting humanitarian rescue operations in the Mediterranean since 2022, will no longer be available. Between October 2023 and February 2025, state-supported missions by Sea-Eye saved an additional 747 people from drowning. The complete elimination of these funds will have a concrete impact on rescue operations and the chances of survival for people in distress at sea.

“This decision is a political declaration of bankruptcy – and a slap in the face for all those who have been involved in civil sea rescue for the past 10 years. People seeking protection will pay for this decision with their lives with fewer rescue missions being planned and financed by organisations such as Sea-Eye. This will only make the passage across the Mediterranean even more dangerous,” says Gorden Isler, chairman of Sea-Eye e.V. “We will not give up. While this government is content to count the dead, we will continue to save lives.”

Sea-Eye and Campact had protested against the planned cuts on the morning before the decision and handed over a petition with 93,724 signatures to Britta Haßelmann and Ricarda Lang (Alliance 90/The Greens). But the protest remained unheard.

“It is no coincidence that the federal government is cutting funding at precisely the moment when sea rescue organisations are being massively criminalised and blocked – it is a political decision with deadly consequences,” criticises Gorden Isler.

Despite the funding cuts, Sea-Eye has pledged to continue its rescue operations – with the support of civil society:

 “We would like to thank the tens of thousands of people who stand with us against this policy of isolation. It is their support that keeps us going. And as long as we have the opportunity, we will continue to rescue people – because every life saved counts,”  Gorden Isler emphasises.