The influence of the Defence Committee on international missions of the Bundeswehr outside national and Alliance defence

In its decision of 12 July 1994 the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that deployments abroad of the German armed forces were permissible under the Basic Law in certain circumstances, but that the consent of Parliament was required for every such mission and that this consent should, in principle, be given in advance.

In addition, the Federal Constitutional Court suggested that the form and scope of parliamentary rights of participation be laid down more precisely through a law.  After around ten years of parliamentary practice, the German Bundestag took up this suggestion and, in December 2004, adopted the Parliamentary Participation Act.

The Defence Committee, which always has an advisory capacity in parliamentary decisions on missions abroad, considers in depth and on a regular basis all international missions of the Bundeswehr that are planned or already taking place. Not only military but also security and Alliance policy considerations are at stake here. This is where the above-mentioned cooperation with the Committee on Foreign Affairs comes into play.

In this connection, it is important to point out that Parliament may only object to a mission, or demand the cessation of a mission which is already under way. Parliament does not have the right to demand on its own initiative that a mission take place.