German Emergency Services Reform Heads to Constitutional Court

The Björn Steiger Foundation challenges the federal government and Baden-Württemberg over alleged shortcomings in emergency medical services.

The Björn Steiger Foundation has filed a constitutional complaint in Karlsruhe, seeking nationwide standards for emergency medical services in Germany.
The foundation claims the federal government has failed its constitutional duty to ensure a uniform, high-quality emergency response system across the country.
The complaint also targets a controversial emergency services law enacted in Baden-Württemberg in August 2024, which the foundation argues does not improve the system.
Efforts to reform emergency services with unified standards were previously pursued by the coalition government of SPD, Greens, and FDP but collapsed with the coalition's dissolution.
The Björn Steiger Foundation, known for its work in establishing the 110/112 emergency numbers, has been advocating for emergency service improvements for decades.