The German Bundestag’s Defence Committee discussed a bill to strengthen the reserve on November 9. The federal government submitted the draft, and six invited experts provided written statements and answered lawmakers’ questions.
The government says the bill is intended to strengthen the reserve and adapt it to new security realities. Among other measures, it would end the current principle of requiring two forms of consent before calling up reservists and allow compulsory call-ups.
Dr Nana Baidoo of the Association of Reservists of the German Bundeswehr supported the proposal. He backed compulsory call-ups but said they would require adequately staffed administrative structures, digital processes and support for employers.
Retired Colonel Peter Haupt described the bill as necessary. Thomas Brockmeier of IHK Halle-Dessau said military readiness must be balanced with companies’ ability to operate, calling for training and exercises to be scheduled early and for compensation to reflect actual losses.
André Wüstner of the German Bundeswehr Association called for clearer rules on who could be required to serve and under what conditions. Gunther Quidde of IHK Hanau-Gelnhausen-Schlüchtern criticised parts of the draft as excessive and complex and said employers needed to be involved.
Lawyer Lennart Armbrust cited “significant constitutional concerns” about compulsory call-ups. In his view, such service should be assessed under Article 12a of Germany’s Basic Law.
Translated from German using artificial intelligence. Source: German Bundestag
