The German Federal Council has approved several key legislative measures in its final session of 2025. Among the approved plans is Defense Minister Pistorius’s proposal for mandatory health checks for men born in 2008, aiming to increase voluntary military service enrollment. All 18-year-old Germans will receive a questionnaire assessing their motivation and suitability for the Bundeswehr, which men must fill out while women may participate voluntarily. If the voluntary enlistment targets are not met, conscription could be reinstated. Additionally, the council endorsed tax relief for commuters through a hike in the commuter allowance and reduced VAT in gastronomy from 19% to 7%. The council also passed the government’s pension package, which includes maintaining the pension level at 48% until 2031 and expanding the mothers’ pension benefit.

Source: https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/bundesrat-billigt-wehrdienstreform-und-rentenpaket-100.html