German cabinet passes draft law to reform military service

The German federal cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft law to modernize the country's military service model, introducing measures for mandatory registration and assessment. Germany suspended compulsory military service in 2011 and since then the Bundeswehr has been transformed into a volunteer army.

According to the draft law, Germany's military service will remain voluntary. However, the government can make service compulsory with the approval of the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, if the security situation deteriorates or if voluntary recruitment proves insufficient. The draft also reintroduces mandatory registration measures.