\n<\/p>\n
Military-age men in Germany must now seek permission to leave the country for more than three months as a result of Berlin\u2019s new conscription rules.<\/p>\n
Following changes made to the nation\u2019s military service laws introduced earlier this year, in a bid to increase Berlin\u2019s anaemic\u00a0Bundeswehr armed forces, a regulation has come into effect, meaning that all men between the ages of 17 and 45 must receive dispensation from the military to travel abroad for more than three months.<\/p>\n
The text of the law, which was adopted in January, states that if such men \u201cwant to remain outside the Federal Republic of Germany beyond an approved period of time or want to extend a stay that does not require approval\u2026 beyond three months.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Ministry of Defence spokesman attempted to downplay the regulation, telling<\/a> broadcaster NTV that requests are almost always approved, because \u201cmilitary service is based exclusively on voluntary activity under current law.\u201d<\/p>\n The spokesman also noted that such requirements were previously in place during the Cold War but lacked \u201cpractical relevance\u201d and were \u201cnot sanctioned\u201d at the time.<\/p>\n