Overview
- EU Interior Commissioner Magnus Brunner’s analysis classifies Germany as at risk of migration pressure in 2026, enabling Berlin to apply to take no additional migrants from other EU states through the end of 2026 and to request technical, personnel and financial assistance.
- The GEAS solidarity mechanism under debate includes accelerated border procedures in controlled facilities, options for financial contributions in lieu of relocations and an annual solidarity fund reported at about €600 million to ease pressures on first-entry states and limit onward movement.
- Union and SPD agreed on a Wehrdienst law slated to take effect on January 1, 2026, starting with a questionnaire to all 18-year-olds next year that men must answer, followed by phased mandatory musterings beginning with those born on or after January 1, 2008.
- Service remains voluntary initially, with a parliamentary ‘Bedarfswehrpflicht’ possible only by law if volunteer numbers fall short; a lottery could be used as a last resort, the voluntary track pays about €2,600 gross monthly and switches to soldier-on-time status after 12 months.
- The compromise sets legally anchored growth targets of roughly 260,000 active personnel and around 200,000 reservists with regular reporting to the Bundestag, and it expands general civilian voluntary service by 15,000 places.