Conscription

Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced on Friday several changes to Greece's mandatory military service, set to be implemented within the next two years as part of the 2030 Agenda. 

The reforms aim to upgrade military service into a "holistic process" that equips soldiers with both military and business skills, Dendias said at the Thebes Artillery Training School inauguration.

A new conscription law has been in effect in Ukraine for over three months, with President Zelensky reporting that mobilization is proceeding as planned. However, public opinion on the law is mixed, according to surveys, reports Voice of America. The law, which took effect on May 18, required conscripts to update their details at designated centers or via an app by July.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed the reintroduction of compulsory military service, according to the Belgrade publication "Vreme." The move will see men undergo 75 days of training, while participation will be voluntary for women. Vucic noted that he had discussed the decision with military officials, signaling that the change could take effect within a year.

Croatia will reintroduce compulsory military service starting January 1, 2025, with a service period lasting two months, as announced by Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić. This decision marks a return to conscription, which had been suspended since 2008 when the country shifted to a volunteer-based system.

General Carsten Breuer, head of defense in Germany, has proposed that women in the country should also be subject to conscription, according to reports from DPA. Germany abolished conscription in 2011, but provisions still allow for compulsory military service during times of war or heightened tension.

President Rumen Radev emphasized the need for initial military training for Bulgaria's youth during his participation in the Fourth National Assembly of the Reserve Army in Stara Zagora. He noted that NATO allies are reinstating conscription, sparking the need for a national debate on this issue.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is advocating for a partial revival of conscription, citing the pressing need to address the shortage of military personnel within the country. Pistorius emphasized that in the event of a shortfall in volunteer enlistment, there may be a requirement for elements of obligation to bolster recruitment numbers.

In about a month, Bulgaria will finalize its approach to organizing military training for civilians, as the deadline for creating the Strategic Defense Review ends in late June. Meanwhile, several European countries are already offering such training.

Bulgaria's Defense Minister, Atanas Zapryanov, affirmed that the reintroduction of mandatory conscription is not under consideration amidst the country's ongoing efforts to modernize its armed forces and enhance military personnel remuneration.

Amid escalating tensions on its borders and a significant increase in the Ministry of National Defense budget, Romania is discreetly preparing for the reintroduction of compulsory military service, according to reports from Digi24.