Overview

• The plan revives nationwide registration in 2026 and introduces mandatory medical screening for young men from mid‑2027, with an initial cohort of roughly 15,000 recruits.
• The model prioritizes volunteers by boosting incentives, with Wehrdienstleistende to be paid as fixed-term soldiers earning over €2,000 net per month.
• Full conscription would only be activated by a Bundestag decision, while the Union pushes for binding annual targets and an automatic shift if goals are missed.
• The package also establishes a National Security Council in the Chancellery and strengthens the military counterintelligence service’s authorities.
• Skeptics, including Bundeswehr Association chief André Wüstner, question whether volunteers can meet NATO’s force goal of about 260,000 and point to legal and capacity constraints.