EU nations are trending toward military focus: some reinstate conscription while others boost voluntary service.
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EU countries are adopting new military approaches in 2026; Croatia has reinstated mandatory military service starting January, while France and Romania have brought back voluntary military training, with Italy likely following suit. Denmark is including women in compulsory service and extending training from four to eleven months. Finland has extended the reserve service age to 65. Poland is significantly expanding its voluntary training, and Germany has increased volunteer pay. Conversely, Spain and Slovenia do not view conscription as a security solution. A trend of increasing military focus is visible across the EU, with some countries expanding service or introducing voluntary options, while others resist this militarization trend. Specific country updates include Denmark’s gender-neutral mandatory service expansion to 11 months; Germany’s 2026 reform maintaining voluntary service but requiring fitness checks for all young men; France launching a voluntary program in 2026; Italy planning a voluntary model similar to France and Germany; Romania implementing voluntary service for both genders from January 2026; Finland raising the reserve age to 65; Poland aiming to train 100,000 volunteers annually by 2027; Belgium starting a one-year voluntary service program in September 2026; and Lithuania increasing training numbers. Several countries like Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, and Sweden maintain or have reinstated mandatory military service. Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Portugal, and Malta represent differing approaches or skepticism towards conscription.
