Germany Pauses Military Approval Rule for Long Trips Abroad Amid Controversy

Germany has suspended a requirement for men under 45 to seek approval for lengthy stays abroad, following an outcry over a reinstated conscription-related law. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius clarified that during peacetime, men of military age are free to travel without declaring extended trips. A rule requiring permission for absences over three months, tied to the Military Service Modernisation Act enacted in January, will remain dormant unless a crisis necessitates conscription enforcement.