Lawmakers in Croatia’s 151-member parliament has voted 84–11 to approve the legal changes marking a return to conscription . The October 24th decision brings back national service, which was suspended in 2008. By the end of the year, authorities will begin calling up citizens born in 2007 for medical examinations.
Paid military service will last two months and provide basic training. The Croatian Ministry of Defence said the goal is to teach young people the skills and knowledge “needed in crisis situations to contribute to national security.”
In the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the debate over compulsory military service has been reignited across the continent, with many countries reconsidering whether a draft could strengthen their national security.
Sweden has reintroduced conscription, while France began trialling its newly revived national service programme, known as the SNU, in 2019. Similar steps have been taken in Belgium and the Netherlands to strengthen their military forces—while compulsory military service may soon return to Germany.
