Amendments are being sought to the draft legislation concerning the introduction of a new form of mandatory service in Germany, according to the chairman of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee, Thomas Röwekamp of the CDU. Röwekamp emphasized the need for a decisive timeline, stating that a determination regarding a potential return to conscription, along with associated personnel criteria, must be made no later than summer 2027.
The postponement of the bill’s initial reading next week underscored the ongoing disagreements regarding crucial implementation details. Röwekamp highlighted Germany’s commitments made to NATO at a recent summit, which include significantly increasing both the number of reservists (a 250% increase) and active soldiers (a 50% increase) to bolster military capabilities. Recent security incidents in NATO airspace and against infrastructure within Germany have further intensified the urgency for strengthening these capabilities.
Röwekamp stressed the necessity of establishing binding annual targets for personnel increases, particularly within the active military, a point of contention with the SPD party. Currently, Defence Minister Pistorius has been hesitant to commit to such defined goals. The politician argued that progressing with such divergent viewpoints would be counterproductive, describing them as “not minor details but essential for our peace and security.
Norbert Röttgen, Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, echoed the sentiment, stating that “still open questions” remain. He indicated that further discussion will continue privately, suggesting that a public legislative process at this stage would be unproductive. The focus will be on reaching a consensus before formally advancing the draft legislation.
