The German Bundestag approved a controversial law on Thursday aimed at accelerating the planning and procurement processes for the Bundeswehr (German armed forces). The legislation, which passed with support from the conservative CDU/CSU alliance, the SPD (Social Democrats) and surprisingly, the far-right AfD, was met with fierce opposition from the Green Party and the Left party.
The new law introduces a broad range of exemptions concerning environmental regulations, budgetary rules and procurement procedures. A key justification, delivered by CDU parliamentarian Vanessa Zobel, prioritized operational readiness above sustainability concerns. “Let’s be honest” Zobel stated during the debate, “in a combat situation, nobody will be asking about the carbon footprint”. She highlighted the extension of the exemption from competitive bidding, effective until 2035, as a pivotal element of the law’s potential impact. This provision effectively allows the Bundeswehr to bypass open tenders, potentially favoring long-standing suppliers.
Green Party parliamentarian Julian Joswig sharply criticized the legislation, accusing the governing coalition of artificially pitting defense and environmental protection against each other. “To play sustainability and security off against each other is short-sighted, esteemed government. They are mutually dependent” he argued, emphasizing the interconnectedness of long-term national security and a healthy environment.
Even amongst the coalition’s supporters, concerns were raised. AfD parliamentarian Malte Kaufmann cautioned that the law’s provisions did not sufficiently clarify lines of responsibility, warning against the potential for expediting “wrong” acquisitions. “Faster wrong procurement doesn’t help the Bundeswehr. We need to procure faster and “correctly”.
The Left party condemned the measures as a potential “procurement swamp” that would funnel even greater sums of money into an already troubled system. Ulrich Thoden, a Left party politician, called for a radical overhaul, suggesting a confiscation of “immoral excess profits” from the arms industry, or even the nationalization of companies like Rheinmetall, as a means of generating funds for social programs and defense modernization.
Prior revisions to the government’s initial draft, adopted by the Defense Committee on January 14th, attempted to mitigate the Bundeswehr’s expanded rights to override environmental and land use regulations, particularly concerning wind turbine development near air defense radar installations. The amended wording now requires a substantial operational impairment, to be substantiated by a formal assessment, before the Bundeswehr can object to such projects. SPD parliamentarian Mahmut Özdemir defended this compromise, claiming it balanced defense capabilities with the continued development of renewable energy sources, though critics argue it represents a significant watering down of environmental protections.
The passage of this law underscores the ongoing political tensions surrounding the Bundeswehr’s modernization and raises questions about the long-term consequences for both Germany’s environmental commitments and its procurement practices, potentially inviting further scrutiny and debate.
