The long-standing dispute over the conscription law has been resolved — according to multiple German media reports, on Wednesday evening, the parliamentary groups of the CDU/CSU and the SPD reached an agreement with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and the new conscription law will come into effect as early as January 1, 2025.

Key results are as follows:

1️⃣ Mandatory conscription registration:

According to the planned law, so-called "conscription registration" (Wehrerfassung) will be reintroduced. In the future, all women and men who have reached the age of 18 will receive a questionnaire asking whether they are willing to serve in the military and whether they believe they are suitable for service.

For men, filling out this questionnaire is mandatory. Transgender people who have transitioned to male must also complete the questionnaire and report for military service; others can voluntarily fill out the questionnaire.

Similarly, the compulsory conscription medical examination (Musterung) will be reintroduced for all males born on or after January 1, 2008.

According to the German Federal Ministry of Defense, the compulsory medical examination will start on July 1, 2027. During the medical examination, it will be assessed whether an individual is suitable for military service — including both physical conditions and psychological suitability.

However, the medical examination is only used to determine suitability for military service and does not mean that the person has been conscripted or must serve.

2️⃣ Voluntary principle:

The German government plans to expand the German Federal Armed Forces by recruiting volunteers. The goal is to have at least 260,000 male and female members in the armed forces, an increase of about 80,000 from the current number of active personnel. Additionally, 200,000 reserve personnel will be recruited.

The ruling coalition hopes that enough volunteers will sign up to achieve this goal. The joint resolution document issued by the CDU, CSU, and SPD clearly states: "Voluntary conscription as a special form of civic participation will be retained."

The coalition aims to increase the attractiveness of voluntary service by offering a pre-tax salary of approximately 2,600 euros per month. Those who commit to serving for at least 12 months will gain the status of temporary soldiers and can receive additional benefits, such as a maximum of 3,500 euros for a driver's license.

3️⃣ Conscription and lottery procedures:

If the number of volunteers is insufficient, the Bundestag will decide to implement the so-called "on-demand conscription" system, which may also involve a "random lottery."

However, this regulation will not take effect automatically but will require separate legislation by the Bundestag. If the situation in defense policy or the condition of the army requires this measure, the parliament must vote in favor of implementing the on-demand conscription system.

If the Bundestag approves, a "random selection procedure" will be used to select more conscripts. The ruling coalition describes this measure as a "last resort" in their joint compromise plan and emphasizes: "The conscription procedure will not be triggered automatically."

This applies to males born on or after January 1, 2008. The basic conscription lasts at least six months. Afterward, each person can decide the duration of their service themselves. The service period can be extended monthly, up to a maximum of 23 months; if eligible, service can even last up to 25 years.

4️⃣ Expansion of civilian volunteer service:

At the same time as strengthening the German Federal Armed Forces, civil volunteer service will also be expanded. An additional 50 million euros will be allocated for this next year, and starting in 2027, 80 million euros will be allocated annually. This funding will create more than 15,000 new jobs, such as in daycare centers, schools, nursing homes, and climate and disaster relief sectors.

The goal is for more than 100,000 young people to participate in volunteer service each year. Additional funds will also enable organizations to increase the compensation for volunteers.

In a press conference, the CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups expressed satisfaction with this compromise.

Jens Spahn, chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, stated: "We will make a binding commitment on the issue of voluntary conscription." He also said that a "binding growth path" for the number of soldiers will be set in the future. Spahn also confirmed, "Everyone will undergo a conscription medical examination if voluntary conscription ultimately proves insufficient and conscription becomes necessary."

Nancy Faeser, Green Party defense expert, criticized the conscription compromise, calling it a step backward, especially regarding the possible use of a lottery system. She believes that the Federal Armed Forces need the best talents, not just anyone.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7572283735056319028/

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