The German cabinet has approved a draft law designed to accelerate planning and procurement for the Bundeswehr, the country’s armed forces, according to hartpunkt.
The measure, jointly presented by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, aims to deliver on a core commitment from the coalition agreement and the government’s immediate action program.
According to the ministry, the legislation introduces exceptions to public procurement law that will “substantially simplify and speed up” the awarding of contracts needed to meet Bundeswehr requirements.
Planning law amendments to the Air Traffic Act are also included, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of military air defense radar systems and strengthening Germany’s security interests.
The scope of the Bundeswehr Procurement Acceleration Act has been expanded beyond the 2022 version to cover all Bundeswehr needs, from military equipment to civilian supplies such as medical materials and construction projects.
The duration of the special provisions has also been extended to the end of 2035. Under Section 7 of the draft, procurement processes may begin even before financing is fully secured, while Section 11 allows for the exclusion of bidders from outside the EU if their countries lack agreements with the bloc.
“The law supports both innovative and off-the-shelf solutions and promotes joint procurements with partner nations,” the ministry said.
The Defense Ministry highlighted close links between the draft and ongoing revisions to EU procurement rules, including the so-called “Defence Omnibus” package. The legislation also addresses a European Commission infringement procedure against Germany, with urgent measures intended to resolve pending legal challenges.
The cabinet also approved new administrative regulations raising the thresholds for direct awards of contracts. This, the government believes, will ease pressure on procurement offices and allow resources to be deployed more effectively.
“Direct awards will now be possible more quickly and more often, for example when interoperable systems are procured jointly with partners,” said Pistorius. “We are also supporting start-up companies by expanding the ability to make advance payments, helping smaller firms scale up their production capacity.”