General Discussion

The rise of the far-right, the demographic crisis and the war in Ukraine have brought the topic of compulsory military service back into the spotlight. In recent years, the debate has returned to many countries, from the Baltic states to those in Central Europe and the Balkans. With the major powers involved in regional conflicts that threaten to escalate, a militaristic frenzy appears to have spread around the continent.

https://voxeurop.eu/en/military-service-conscription-returns-europe



In May, Italy's Lega (far-right) led by Matteo Salvini presented a bill to introduce compulsory military or civilian service for all 18-26 year olds, lasting six months. Military service was abolished in Italy in 2005. The participation of nationalist parties in an increasing number of European governments, an ageing population and almost four years of the war in Ukraine have led to a strengthening of militaristic tendencies.

Today, several European governments seem intent on extending military service to meet growing defence needs and geopolitical tensions, for which of course the European Union bears its share of responsibility. Spain abolished compulsory military service in 2001, France in 1996, Germany in 2011, Belgium in 1994 and the UK all the way back in 1963. Iceland has no national army, while Ireland has never had compulsory military service. Now, however, the picture is beginning to change.

Considering conscription

In July, debate engulfed Germany on the reintroduction of military service, as well as the inclusion of women. The initiative was not taken by the Christian Democrats (it was in fact Angela Merkel who abolished military service in 2011), but by the Social Democratic Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who pledged to reform the army after years of "neglect". Pistorius, a very popular figure in the country, announced a plan to increase the armed forces from 181,000 to 203,000. However, this will not be a traditional form of compulsory military service. According to Pistorius's plan, all men and women with a German passport will receive an official letter at the age of 18 inviting them to consider basic military service lasting six months, with the possibility of extending it to 17 months.

Young German men will be obligated to fill in a questionnaire providing information on their marital status, interests, position with regard to firearms, academic knowledge and personal health. For women, responding to this questionnaire will be optional. The German constitution provides that in special circumstances the government can ask women to serve, but not to take up arms. Germany is trying to replicate the Swedish model, introduced in 2017 and based on a selective process that does not involve automatic conscription based on age but uses special criteria to identify the most capable individuals.

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