Igor Tabak

Following Monday's terrorist attack in Manchester, England, which killed 22 people at a pop concert, Croatian media are speculating that tighter security checks will be reintroduced on the external border of the EU's passport-free Schengen Area, which separates Croatia and Slovenia.

Recent media reports have suggested that Croatia plans to reintroduce conscription to the armed forces, but military analyst Igor Tabak told BIRN that the idea was not realistic for logistical and financial reasons at the moment.

Croatia suspended - and de facto abolished - compulsory military service in 2008, although people can still do a 14-week-long voluntary stint in the army.

Although Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic has announced the purchase of new military jets for Croatia's air force, the idea is still far from realisation, a defence analyst said.

Grabar Kitarovic announced the news on Saturday in an interview for the daily newspaper Vecernji list.

Current discussion in Croatia on re-introducing military conscription is "not serious" and shows a lack of proper analysis and preparation, a military analyst, Igor Tabak, told BIRN.

"The military doesn't serve itself and is financed from the state budget by the citizens - so starting such a debate without taking into account the basis for such a decision is frivolous," he said.

US Vice-President Joe Biden has arrived in Croatia for a summit of the so-called "Brdo Brijuni Process", which opened on Wednesday in Zagreb.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic on Monday said she backed the reintroduction of compulsory military service for eight weeks.

Croatia abolished compulsory military service back in 2008 and Grabar Kitarovic floated bringing it back during the presidential campaign.

Several specialists said they could see the potential for the idea.