Fan letter from Interior Minister Herbert Reul

The European Football Championship kicks off in Germany on June 14. For four weeks, the ball will roll through the stadiums of this republic. 20 of the 51 matches will take place in North Rhine-Westphalia: in Gelsenkirchen, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Cologne, right on our doorstep. I'm really looking forward to it!

We in NRW know soccer, and not just on the pitch: we are great hosts, cosmopolitan, a bit football-mad and, above all, we know our way around major sporting events.

The European Championships are nevertheless a tour de force for the North Rhine-Westphalian police. The world has become more insecure and the threat level from international terrorism is high.

Securing the European Championships is therefore the number one priority for the police. Thousands of police employees have been preparing for months to ensure that the European Championship is also a well-rounded event in terms of security.

The information hub of the security authorities is the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) in 
Neuss - this is where all information is collected, evaluated and managed. Around 600 police officers from the federal and state governments and from other European countries work in and for the IPCC alone.

Whether in the stadiums, on the streets and squares, at public viewings, in the pubs or in the fan zones: Our Team 110 is doing everything it can to ensure that the matches are safe and peaceful.

You as fans can also play your part. My request to you is: cheer on, celebrate with us - and be calm, peaceful and cheerful.

We are looking forward to four weeks of soccer and are ready for the kick-off of the European Championship soccer summer.