After months of internal disagreement, the parties supporting Germany’s federal government have reached a decisive agreement on the country’s upcoming military service legislation. According to information from parliamentary circles in Berlin, Germany is preparing to introduce a universal screening requirement for all men turning 18 — a major policy shift as the Bundeswehr faces persistent personnel shortages.
The compromise emerged from negotiations between leading defence policymakers from the SPD and CDU/CSU, who had been at odds over the design of a new, more flexible form of military service. The talks reportedly accelerated after parallel agreements in other policy areas created momentum within the coalition.
A new cornerstone of Germany’s defence policy
Under the compromise, every man at the age of 18 will receive a call-up for an initial medical and suitability screening. This screening will not immediately translate into compulsory military service. Instead, it serves as a broad assessment of the potential pool of volunteers.
However, the government has agreed that if the Bundeswehr cannot recruit a sufficient number of volunteers from among those who are found medically fit, a selective draft may be triggered, based on legally defined criteria approved by the Bundestag.
This represents a significant departure from earlier drafts, which had suggested a complex two-stage lottery system for determining who would be screened and who might eventually be drafted. Lawmakers have now rejected that approach in favor of a clearer, more transparent system anchored in a universal assessment.
A structured path to strengthening the Bundeswehr
The defence committees of the Bundestag have been working on a multi-stage plan for several months. Discussions have included:
- The creation of realistic recruitment targets,
- Measures for expanding the reserve forces,
- And the introduction of more flexible service options to meet long-term personnel needs.
One concept under evaluation is a potential “needs-based service obligation” — a mechanism that would permit selective conscription if voluntary enlistment falls short of the military’s operational requirements.
According to parliamentary sources, the defence ministry acknowledges that the Bundeswehr may require an additional 3,000 to 5,000 service members per year starting in 2026, depending on Germany’s commitments within NATO and the European Union.
Internal disagreements and political tensions
The negotiations over the reform were shaped by notable tensions between Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and the coalition’s parliamentary groups. Members from both the SPD and CDU/CSU reportedly insisted on clearer personnel planning and more measurable recruitment strategies, while the ministry initially favored models with greater flexibility and less formal compulsion.
The debate also included proposals for short-term military roles designed to support basic security tasks, such as facility protection. Some lawmakers raised concerns that such roles could artificially boost recruitment statistics without contributing meaningfully to Germany’s defence capabilities.
While not all elements of the reform package have been publicly confirmed, sources say the minister ultimately signaled willingness to meet the Bundestag’s demand for a transparent and verifiable personnel expansion plan.
Historical background: Germany’s evolving approach to military service
Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011 after six decades of conscription. Since then, the Bundeswehr has struggled with fluctuating recruitment numbers, a competitive labor market, and growing international security responsibilities, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Calls to reintroduce structured national service — whether military or civilian — have intensified in recent years. Supporters argue that a screening requirement provides:
- A clearer picture of available human resources,
- A pathway to increase voluntary enlistment,
- And a structured system that avoids full-scale conscription while still ensuring readiness.
Critics, however, warn that even limited compulsory elements may raise logistical and legal challenges, especially regarding equal treatment of men and women.
Next steps: parliamentary briefings and public communication
Members of the Bundestag’s defence committees are expected to receive a full briefing Thursday morning, followed by official communication to the press. While some elements of the agreement are still being finalized, the return of universal screening appears to be the central pillar of the compromise.
If the planned timeline holds, the new system would begin operating in 2026, gradually expanding Germany’s military personnel to meet long-term strategic needs.
