Reserve bill in Bundestag: more mandatory service, €500 for small firms
Defence Minister Pistorius wants the Bundeswehr reserve to be ready faster. The Bundestag debated the bill at first reading. The states want exemptions for police and fire services.
Archive image · Photo: U.S. Department of Defense / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
On Thursday, the Bundestag held the first reading of the federal government's Reserve Strengthening Act. The aim is to improve the reserve's availability and readiness in view of the security situation and Germany's national defence operations plan. In future, reservists could to a limited extent be compulsorily called up for duties other than exercises, with the permitted duration depending on their previous service. Some age limits will be raised and short-notice call-ups will become possible. Anyone who only completed basic military service before 30 June 2011 could still only be called up voluntarily.
Incentives are planned for reservists and employers: travel costs will be reimbursed more generously, and private employers are to receive higher compensation for replacement staff. Companies with up to 249 employees will receive a flat €500 if an employee completes at least 30 days of exercises. The government expects additional costs of around €43.1 million a year from 2027. Besides Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), speakers included Diana Herbstreuth and Thomas Erndl (CDU/CSU), Jörg Zirwes and Sven Wendorf (AfD), Niklas Wagener (Greens) and Donata Vogtschmidt (Left).
The Bundesrat supports the goal but is calling for exemptions for police, fire and rescue services and prison staff, as well as a right of consent for security authorities in call-ups. The federal government rejects a general consent requirement for security authorities but will examine aligning the exemptions for police officers. The bill was referred to the Defence Committee for further deliberation.