Family Minister Karin Prien has stated that any discussion regarding a potential return to conscription in Germany should include the question of female participation in the armed forces
Speaking on Friday, Prien indicated her personal belief that a service obligation, whether within the Bundeswehr or through voluntary service programs, should apply equally to both men and women She emphasized the need for intensive public discourse on the matter, stating that the question is viewed differently now than it was several decades ago, given advancements in equality and gender parity
Prien highlighted the existing presence of young women voluntarily serving in the Bundeswehr and argued that the topic of equality should not be overlooked in any debate surrounding conscription She framed the discussion as a matter of gender equality, aligning it with broader societal goals
Turning to budgetary concerns, Prien addressed recent announcements by Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil regarding necessary savings for the 2027 budget She expressed a degree of familiarity with such constraints, having previously navigated spending cuts during her time as a regional minister While acknowledging that all areas will be subject to review, Prien affirmed a commitment to identifying potential savings
However, she drew a firm line regarding programs benefiting children and youth “We will certainly not cut back on children and youth” she stated, emphasizing them as crucial future investments Prien indicated the initial stage of across-the-board spending reductions is projected to exceed 100 million euros, with further cuts anticipated in subsequent years
Following a recent review of the current budget, Prien expressed satisfaction with the results, noting modest increases in certain areas She acknowledged the current period requires fiscal consolidation, but highlighted continued investment in programs supporting children and youth, specifically mentioning the child benefit supplement She confirmed that additional funds were allocated to these programs during the review meeting