BERLIN, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Following lengthy negotiations, Germany's ruling parties on Thursday announced an agreement on detailed plans to reform the country's military service model, including provisions that could allow the reintroduction of conscription.
While the primary objective remains strengthening the Bundeswehr through voluntary enlistment, the revised system will incorporate mandatory components.
Under the new plan, all 18-year-olds will receive a questionnaire to assess their motivation and suitability for military service. Completion of the questionnaire will be compulsory for men, according to details presented at a press conference in Berlin by politicians from the conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD). Mandatory medical assessments for men will also be included in the reform.
A central feature of the proposal is the option to reinstate conscription. This would not occur automatically. Instead, the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, would have the authority to activate conscription if deemed necessary.
The German cabinet had approved a draft law on the military service reform in August, but the proposal later faced opposition from the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, prolonging negotiations between the coalition partners. With the new agreement now reached, the legislation is expected to pass the Bundestag later this year and take effect in 2026.
The announcement came a day after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged renewed efforts to strengthen the armed forces. "To increase our defense capabilities, the Bundeswehr needs more soldiers now," he said at an event marking the 70th anniversary of the Bundeswehr. ■
