Croatia has decided to restore compulsory military service for the first time since 2008 amid “rising global tensions”. The country’s parliament voted to amend the laws on defense and the armed forces, reports the Associated Press.
84 out of 151 lawmakers voted to update the defense law, and 110 lawmakers voted to amend the law on the armed forces.
Compulsory military service in Croatia was abolished in 2007, on the eve of joining NATO, in order to “professionalize” the army. However, according to government officials, rising international tensions are forcing the country to return to basic military training to strengthen national defense.
Conscription is scheduled to resume in 2026. About 18,000 men over the age of 18 will be drafted each year, who will undergo a two-month training course. Women are exempt from the law, and those who refuse to serve “for reasons of conscience” will have the option of completing alternative civilian service lasting three to four months.
Conscripts will receive 1,100 euros per month (about $1,280). The amount of payments for those who choose alternative service has not yet been determined, but is likely to be lower. Conscripts will also have an advantage when it comes to employment in state and public institutions.
