Ukrainian conscripts<\/p>\n
For the first time in decades, European countries are discussing compulsory military service.<\/p>\n
The Ukraine-Russia war and the ongoing instability in the Middle East<\/a> have renewed calls for increased defence spending and measures to improve national security.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, NATO leaders pledged to increase defence spending to five per cent of GDP by 2035.<\/p>\n The decision taken at a summit in the Hague was hailed by Donald Trump<\/a>, who called it a \u2018big win for Europe<\/a> and\u2026 Western civilisation\u2019.<\/p>\n Several European states already have existing laws mandating military conscription, with 13 countries requiring certain citizens to do some form of service.<\/p>\n The latest to reintroduce compulsory service was Latvia in January 2024 \u2013 more than 16 years after it dropped the measure in 2007.<\/p>\n Other countries, such as Germany and Italy, are considering adopting policies to boost their armed forces.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at which European countries citizens are expected to serve:<\/p>\n Austria has mandated military service continuously since the 18th century.<\/p>\n All male citizens aged 18 to 25 are required to serve in the armed forces, or if they prefer, perform civilian service.<\/p>\n The military service lasts six months, while the alternative, which includes driving ambulances and working in retirement homes is for nine months.<\/p>\n Women are not obliged to do service but may enter voluntarily.<\/p>\n Due to its precarious political relationship with neighbouring Turkey and the wider Middle East, Cyprus enforces conscription for eligible male citizens.<\/p>\n Men, including those born from just one Greek Cypriot parent, aged 18 or over, must serve 14 months in the Cypriot National Guard.<\/p>\n They are then transitioned to the country\u2019s reserve forces, where they continue to serve until they reach 50.<\/p>\n Several European states already have existing laws mandating military conscription, with 13 countries requiring certain citizens to do some form of service.<\/p>\n The latest to reintroduce compulsory service was Latvia in January 2024 \u2013 more than 16 years after it dropped the measure in 2007.<\/p>\n Other countries, such as Germany and Italy, are considering adopting policies to boost their armed forces.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at which European countries citizens are expected to serve:<\/p>\n Austria has mandated military service continuously since the 18th century.<\/p>\n All male citizens aged 18 to 25 are required to serve in the armed forces, or if they prefer, perform civilian service.<\/p>\n The military service lasts six months, while the alternative, which includes driving ambulances and working in retirement homes is for nine months.<\/p>\n Women are not obliged to do service but may enter voluntarily.<\/p>\n Due to its precarious political relationship with neighbouring Turkey and the wider Middle East, Cyprus enforces conscription for eligible male citizens.<\/p>\n Men, including those born from just one Greek Cypriot parent, aged 18 or over, must serve 14 months in the Cypriot National Guard.<\/p>\n They are then transitioned to the country\u2019s reserve forces, where they continue to serve until they reach 50.<\/p>\n Men over 18 are conscripted for between four and 12 months of military service in Denmark.<\/p>\n Women are currently exempt from the obligation, but will be required to complete service from 2026, under new plans announced last year.<\/p>\n The Danish government has also indicated it will extend the basic service time from four to 11 months by 2026.<\/p>\n Estonia currently requires all males aged between 18 and 27 to perform military service.<\/p>\n Those with ideological or religious objections may complete civilian national service instead.<\/p>\n Around 3,200 conscripts enter the forces every year in the eastern European nation, which shares a 180-mile border with Russia.<\/p>\n Like many other Scandinavian countries, Finland conscripts all males for military service or equivalent civilian service.<\/p>\n Depending on their role, most military conscripts serve between six and 12 months.<\/p>\n Non-military service has a fixed length of 347 days.<\/p>\n Conscription has been a core policy of Greece since 1914, with all men aged 19 to 45 required to do service.<\/p>\n Male citizens serve 12 months in either the army, navy or air force.<\/p>\n Conscientious objectors may instead perform 15 months of civilian service.<\/p>\n Another country bordering Russia, Latvia reinstated compulsory military service for all men aged 18 to 27 in January 2024, having suspended it in 2006.<\/p>\n Conscripts must now serve a minimum of 11 months in the National Armed Forces or National Guard.<\/p>\n The law allows for those who oppose service for religious or ideological reasons to serve for 11 months in one of the areas of the Ministry of Defence.<\/p>\n Lithuanian males are subject to conscription between the ages of 18 and 23.<\/p>\n Up to 4,000 conscripts are selected every year via a random system, although most young people have signed up voluntarily since the scheme was introduced in 2015.<\/p>\n There are also military volunteering opportunities for both women and those up to the age of 38.<\/p>\n Moldova maintains mandatory conscription for males aged 18 and above.<\/p>\n Conscripts typically serve a year.<\/p>\n But the country is transitioning from a system of compulsory military service to professionally contracted armed forces.<\/p>\n Since 1907, Norway has formally had a policy of conscription, with the obligation extending to women as of 2015.<\/p>\n Enforcement of compulsory military service was practised loosely, with the system highly selective and not all those eligible are called up.<\/p>\n Alongside neighbouring Norway, Sweden is one of just two European countries that practice conscription for both men and women.<\/p>\n Like Norway, all 18-year-olds are tested, but not all are required to do service.<\/p>\n Conscientious objectors have the right to apply for alternative service and then become part of the civilian reserve.<\/p>\n Swiss male citizens must complete either mandatory military service from 20 or civilian service.<\/p>\n In a referendum held in 2013 to abolish the practice, 73 per cent voted to retain the compulsory service requirement.<\/p>\nAustria<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cyprus<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Austria<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Cyprus<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Denmark<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Estonia<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Finland<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Greece<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Latvia<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Lithuania<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Moldova<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Norway<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Sweden<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Switzerland<\/strong><\/h2>\n