Germany's CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups defended the government's customs and financial-crime reform bill in the Bundestag's Finance Committee on 4 November. According to the parliamentary news service, the coalition groups expect it to strengthen efforts against money laundering. The report concerns deliberations on a bill, rather than a law that has entered into force.
Government bill 21/8282 would reorganise the General Customs Directorate into customs-and-tax and security-and-enforcement branches, the report says. Investigative and enforcement units would be brought together, with specialised units at local customs authorities handling complex international money-laundering cases. Assets of unclear origin worth more than €100,000 would become easier to confiscate.
The AfD warned of interference with property rights and the presumption of innocence if asset investigations begin without a specific proven offence. The SPD argued that criminally acquired assets have no constitutional protection. The Greens and Die Linke particularly criticised the absence from the bill of a promised joint centre against tax and financial crime. These are the parties' positions as reported by the Bundestag.
At the 2 November hearing, experts broadly welcomed additional customs powers while raising questions about staffing and asset-confiscation arrangements. The SPD now described that hearing as a basis for further deliberations. In the latest committee report, the government said initial steps towards the promised centre would be taken in 2026; that statement does not confirm its establishment has been completed.
