Croatia discontinued compulsory military service in 2008 but is set to reverse that decision given the current geopolitical tensions.
Croatia has joined the ranks of European countries that are considering bringing back conscription in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić attended a meeting of the Croatian National Assembly on Tuesday and told the press afterward that the mandatory conscription is planned for two to three months, but did not mention any specific details, Hungarian news agency MTI reported.
He stressed that the allowances for voluntary military service had recently been increased to €900, which is expected to remain the same for those who perform compulsory conscription.
The aim is to keep as many young people in the defense system as possible, with an estimated 15,000 people taking part in training each year, he said.
In Croatia, compulsory military service was abolished in 2008, partly because surveys at the time showed that almost 90 percent of young people conscientiously objected to the use of arms. “Now plans are being made for them too,” the minister pointed out.
“Those who refuse to take up arms will take rakes and hoes in their hands or carry sacks on the dikes for flood protection,” the minister said, noting that “they do not have to carry weapons, but they must fulfill their duties and obligations to the state,” Anusic said.
However, for those who opt for civilian service, the length of service will be longer and the discount will be less, he said.
According to Veterans Affairs Minister Tomo Medved, the security challenges are such that more and more countries around the world, including in Europe, are thinking about reintroducing a system of compulsory military service.
The Croatian General Assembly also stressed the importance of training young people in self-defense; from first aid to responding to natural disasters, accidents, and catastrophes, to recognizing unconventional threats and challenges in various forms.
In February this year, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that the government had asked Defense Minister Ivan Anušić to examine the possibility of reintroducing conscription.
“We need to act responsibly and not hibernate when there are crisis zones everywhere,” Plenkovic stressed at the time, referring to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the fact that recent tensions in Kosovo had almost led to war.
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