Overview
- Leaders Jens Spahn and Matthias Miersch with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the deal after briefing lawmakers, ending months of coalition deadlock.
- From 2026, all 18‑year‑olds will receive a service questionnaire, with responses mandatory for men, to gauge motivation and suitability.
- Beginning mid‑2027, entire male cohorts starting with the 2008 birth year are to undergo nationwide medical screenings to assess eligibility.
- The framework centers on voluntary service, with no automatic reactivation of conscription; if a shortfall arises, Parliament can enact a limited demand draft using a lottery only as a last resort.
- The plan sets a statutory growth path to roughly 260,000 active troops and about 200,000 reservists, adds incentives including about €2,600 gross monthly pay, and classifies volunteers as soldiers on time only from a 12‑month commitment, drawing praise from the Bundeswehr association and criticism from Green lawmakers.