The newly negotiated compromise, released Thursday morning, takes a different path. It introduces mandatory registration and medical screening, but makes any move toward compulsory service dependent on a separate parliamentary decision — a political middle ground.
Under the new plan, all 18-year-olds will be formally registered for service, with men required to complete a compulsory questionnaire about their fitness and willingness to serve. In a significant shift, the parties agreed to reinstate mandatory medical examinations for male 18-year-olds starting with those born in 2008, giving the government early visibility into who could serve if needed.
But the real compromise lies in the next step. Instead of automatically activating call-ups when volunteer numbers fall short — the mechanism that fueled political resistance last month — the plan creates a “needs-based service duty” that can only begin if parliament votes for it. If lawmakers decide the security situation or staffing shortfalls justify compulsory service, the Bundeswehr would select only the required number of recruits through a structured process, resorting to a lottery only as a final measure.
To strengthen the voluntary pathway, the deal includes new incentives: €2,600 monthly pay, a subsidy for a car or truck driver’s license after one year of service and a new status for long-serving volunteers.
The compromise proposal also anchors a legal troop-growth target of 255,000 to 270,000 active soldiers plus around 200,000 reservists, aligned with Germany’s NATO commitments and reviewed twice a year by parliament. Currently, Germany has around 182,000 soldiers.
The draft law is expected to be introduced to parliament for a vote by the end of the year.
