Overview

• CDU foreign minister Johann Wadephul withdrew his ministerial veto, clearing the way for Boris Pistorius’ draft to go to the cabinet on Wednesday at the Defense Ministry.
• The proposal prioritizes an expanded voluntary service with higher pay and rejects an automatic mechanism to reinstate conscription, keeping any call‑up contingent on Bundestag approval.
• Union leaders say they will push for legally enforceable annual targets and an automatic trigger for compulsory service if volunteer recruitment falls short.
• Implementation steps include questionnaires to all 18‑year‑old men starting in 2026 (optional for women), mandatory medical screening from 2028, and pay above €2,000 net for volunteers.
• The push comes as NATO expects about 260,000 active German troops, leaving a shortfall of roughly 80,000, with training and housing limits constraining rapid intake; internal goals foresee 15,000 volunteers this year, 20,000 in 2026, and 33,000 by 2029.