Overview
- Union and SPD agreed on a new model that keeps service voluntary in principle but enables a Bundestag‑authorized Bedarfswehrpflicht if recruitment falls short.
- A nationwide medical screening of young men would establish the eligible pool, with lottery selection possible if a draft is triggered.
- The plan sets growth targets of roughly 260,000 active personnel and about 200,000 reservists in line with revised NATO requirements.
- Service participants would receive €2,600 per month, and the government is aiming for the law to take effect at the start of 2026.
- Jens Spahn said the deal adds greater binding force to voluntariness, while Daniel Günther welcomed the agreement and called for a service obligation for both men and women, rejecting a referendum proposal.