MPs approve German plan to attract military recruits

German MPs have approved the government's plan to attract more military recruits as the country tries to boost the ranks of its armed forces in the face of rising concern about the threat posed by Russia.

The plan also foresees mandatory medical checks for young men.

It stops short of reintroducing conscription, though it leaves open the possibility of compulsory service for at least a limited number should the need arise.

Parliament's lower house, the Bundestag, approved the plan on Friday by 323 votes to 272, with one abstention.

It's a modified version of a plan that Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet approved in August.

Germany has committed billions to improving its military's equipment after years of neglect and the government has turned its attention to trying to persuade more people to join up.

It's not alone in trying to bolster its armed forces: last week, France unveiled a program to train thousands of volunteers aged 18 and 19 starting in 2026.

Belgium and Poland also have plans to attract more people to train or serve.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told MPs that "our allies are looking at Germany" and argued the country had become a "pacesetter for defence in Europe".

He said that, with the new legislation, "we are taking a further decisive step for our defence capability".

Germany suspended conscription for men in 2011 and has subsequently struggled to attract large numbers of short-term volunteers.

In recent years, the number of military personnel has hovered just above 180,000, compared with 300,000 people in 2001, more than a third of whom were conscripts.

The government wants to raise the figure to 260,000 in the next decade, and says it will also need about 200,000 reservists, more than double the current figure.

The plan approved on Friday foresees more attractive pay and conditions for people who join up on a short-term basis, better training and more flexibility on how long people can serve, starting from a minimum of six months.

The aim is to draw enough recruits without reviving compulsory service, an idea unpopular with the centre-left junior partner in Merz's coalition.

But the plan leaves the door open for parliament to introduce mandatory service at least for a limited number of people, possibly selected at random, "particularly if the defence policy situation or the personnel situation of the armed forces make this necessary".

Many in Merz's conservative bloc think that conscription will ultimately be needed.

Ten European Union countries have compulsory military service: Austria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden.