The German government is considering introducing a new scheme that will allow foreigners to enlist in the country’s army and obtain citizenship in a short period, SchengenVisaInfo reported on Wednesday.

The plan is aimed at having the German army ready within five years. In this regard, the government is discussing granting German citizenship quicker to foreigners without undergoing extended procedures after recruitment, it added.

According to DW, Germany plans to recruit citizens of the EU countries in the initial stage, however, there is also scope beyond these countries.

Germany’s Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius first put forward the idea saying that the army is dealing with a severe personnel shortage while suggesting that foreigners’ enlistment would help the country combat this shortage.

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Not just the government’s ministers but others also supported the plan as the Free Democratic Party and the Christian Democratic Union also agreed with the proposal.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, member of the FDP told DW that the scheme could be extended beyond the Europe apart from recruiting candidates from European non-EU countries.

It is pertinent to mention that the German government shortened foreigners’ paths to citizenship and ended a ban on dual nationality on Friday by passing a naturalisation law designed to attract more migrant workers.

The new law, a signature policy of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition of centrist and left-leaning parties, was adopted after a stormy debate in parliament, during which opposition legislators accused the government of devaluing citizenship and adding to the burden migration is placing on public services.