Bundesbildungsministerin Karin Prien (CDU) has announced that she will table a draft law this year to strengthen Germany’s voluntary service programs. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, she said, “We need to think about the resilience of our society. The question of what I can do for my country is central”.
Prien emphasized that the goal is to reinforce not only the Bundeswehr but also the Bundesfreiwilligendienst, the Jugendfreiwilligendienste, and civil and disaster‑response duties. “It’s also about awakening people’s willingness in Germany to engage for the nation and its security” she added. “Accordingly, within my remit I will bring a draft bill forward this year that largely regulates the society services together. Naturally, I will also enter an intensive dialogue with the Länder”.
She went on to explain that, although a civil service does not exist because conscription is currently suspended, Germany should still prepare for a possible return of mandatory service. “If conscription ever comes back, we want to have a modern civil service ready” she said. “Since a civil service and the voluntary services are closely intertwined, we must also consider how best to organise them going forward”.
Prien also advocated placing Bundeswehr youth officers in schools. “The Bundeswehr is the parliamentary army, firmly anchored in our constitution, and its core mission is to defend our country” she noted. “Therefore it is right-and important-for youth officers to visit schools to share their expertise on geopolitical and security matters”.
She concluded that the pause of conscription has often left young people without a clear impulse to ask whether they can do what is necessary for their country in today’s world. “It’s not solely the youth officers’ responsibility, but as a society we must engage these discussions with young people who are in an age range where they could serve”.
