Overview

• The government approved a plan to grow the force through voluntary service for now while leaving any return to compulsory conscription to a future parliamentary decision.
• From January 1, 2026, all 18-year-old men must complete a service questionnaire, with women able to do so voluntarily, followed by mandatory medical exams for men starting July 1, 2027.
• The reform targets about 260,000 active soldiers and roughly 200,000 operational reservists by the early 2030s, with service terms ranging from six to 23 months.
• Incentives include higher pay of about €2,300 a month plus benefits such as free healthcare, accommodation and training opportunities like driving licences.
• The cabinet also approved creating a National Security Council and new protections against cyberattacks, while officials cited limited barracks and training capacity as reasons to scale up gradually.