With the special fund, the German government has given itself room for maneuver. Now, the cabinet has decided that the funds for weapons can be spent more quickly. The federal police will also receive new equipment.
Bill approved: Cabinet plans to speed up procurement of defence materials. The German government has decided that the German army should be able to procure defence materials much more quickly in the future. The federal cabinet has approved a bill to this effect. "We want to speed up procurement in order to make Germany more secure," said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. He spoke of a "revolutionary law" and a "quantum leap".
The bill expands on a previous law from 2022. Procurement had been accelerated since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine. Given NATO's new goals and plans to significantly expand the German army, infrastructure should also be expanded. The requirement to submit bids for arms contracts and environmental regulations, for example in the construction of barracks, will be simplified.
Production in Germany will be facilitated
Larger contracts will no longer have to be divided into smaller tenders. Requests after the award of contracts will not have a suspensive effect. Furthermore, priority will be given to the production of weapons, ammunition and military equipment within German territory, as this is considered "of essential security interest".
"We need more protective equipment, and we need it faster. This is only possible by expanding production," said Economy Minister Katherina Reiche. Under the proposed law, the procurement would cover "all military goods without exception," according to Reiche.
New weapon for the federal police
The federal police will also be better equipped. The cabinet has decided on the widespread use of so-called Taser weapons. Initially, 10,000 of these devices will be purchased. Five million euros have already been allocated for this purpose this year.
A Taser gun is a device that delivers an electric shock at a distance, causing painful muscle contractions. This often incapacitates the person affected. These weapons are controversial, as their use against people with heart disease or cardiovascular problems can have health consequences./ DW (A2 Televizion)
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