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 are permissible under the Basic Law in certain circumstances, but that the consent of Parliament is required for every such mission and that this consent should, in principle, be given in advance. This ruling underlined the special character of the Bundeswehr as a "parliamentary army", lending the German Bundestag a truly central role in decisions on deployments abroad of German armed forces. In late 2004, a legal framework for parliamentary involvement was created with the adoption of the Parliamentary Participation Act. This legal framework reflected parliamentary practice which had been ongoing for ten years. Parliament does not have the right to demand on its own initiative that a mission take place, however. It may only object to a mission, or demand the cessation of a mission which is already under way.
Within Parliament, the Defence Committee examines in particular detail and on a regular basis all international missions of the Bundeswehr that are planned or already taking place. And it does so not only from a military perspective – since the service personnel of the Bundeswehr are frequently involved in fields which are also difficult from a security-policy point of view. Thus, examination of various aspects of international security policy has taken on an increasingly important role in the work of the Defence Committee. As a result, there is a certain amount of overlap between its terms of reference and those of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which makes it necessary for both committees to cooperate closely.
In dealing with deployments abroad, the Defence Committee calls on the Federal Government to update it at regular intervals on the situation in deployment areas. In addition, it undertakes trips to these regions in order to see at first hand the situation on the ground. Whilst the Committee on Foreign Affairs is the committee responsible for all questions on sending troops abroad or extending their stay, the Defence Committee is always involved in an advisory capacity as a committee asked for its opinion. Since intensive deliberations on deployments take place in the Defence Committee at all stages, its opinion carries particular weight.
