Overview
- Bundestag defense committee chair Thomas Röwekamp endorsed Generalinspekteur Carsten Breuer’s call to screen entire year-groups rather than rely on a lottery.
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius dismissed a lottery compromise as a “fauler Kompromiss” and argued for nationwide screening to support rapid mobilization.
- The governing coalition is still negotiating the Wehrdienstgesetz despite a cabinet‑approved draft, with the extent of compulsory elements unresolved.
- CDU/CSU leaders want legally binding growth targets for the Bundeswehr and fallback compulsory measures if voluntary recruitment falls short.
- Lawmakers are working to meet NATO‑related force goals of about 460,000 personnel, including roughly 200,000 reservists, compared with around 182,000 currently, with expert hearings on November 10 ahead of a possible December 5 vote.