Germany Suspends Military Approval Requirement for Long Stays Abroad
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced the suspension of a controversial regulation requiring men under 45 to obtain prior permission for stays abroad exceeding three months. The rule, part of the newly enacted Military Service Modernisation Act effective January 1st, was intended as a precautionary measure following Russia's invasion of Ukraine but went largely unnoticed until reported by a German newspaper. Pistorius confirmed that no such permissions are currently required while military service remains voluntary, stating that travel freedom is preserved for all ages. However, he noted that procedures will be reinstated in the event of a crisis. This development occurs amidst Chancellor Friedrich Merz's broader goal to establish Europe's strongest conventional army, with mandatory medical exams for 18-year-old men scheduled to begin in July 2027.
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Germany Suspends Military Approval Requirement for Long Stays Abroad
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced the suspension of a controversial regulation requiring men under 45 to obtain prior permission for stays abroad exceeding three months. The rule, part of the newly enacted Military Service Modernisation Act effective January 1st, was intended as a precautionary measure following Russia's invasion of Ukraine but went largely unnoticed until reported by a German newspaper. Pistorius confirmed that no such permissions are currently required while military service remains voluntary, stating that travel freedom is preserved for all ages. However, he noted that procedures will be reinstated in the event of a crisis. This development occurs amidst Chancellor Friedrich Merz's broader goal to establish Europe's strongest conventional army, with mandatory medical exams for 18-year-old men scheduled to begin in July 2027.
BBC News