84 members of the unicameral parliament, the Sabor, voted for the amendment. 11 deputies were against and 31 abstained. The government in Zagreb argues that the return to compulsory conscription is intended to strengthen the national defense system, increase the readiness of reserves and prepare young people to respond to crisis situations.
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Croatia reinstates compulsory military service. This is the remuneration she established
In accordance with the adopted regulations, All men who turn 18 will be automatically entered into the military register. In the calendar year in which they turn 19, they will be summoned for mandatory medical examinations and sent to military training. Exceptions are made for students and athletes participating in international competitions – in their case the training date may be postponed, but no later than until they are 30 years old.
Basic military training (TVO) will last two months. The first recruitment will begin this year, and the arrival of the first conscripts to the barracks is planned for the beginning of 2026. As reported by public television HRT, approximately 4,000 are to be drafted into service annually. recruits.
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Conscripts will receive a salary of EUR 1,100 per month for participating in military training. People choosing the civil service will receive lower benefits – their amount is to be specified in the implementing regulations.
The Croatian Ministry of Defense announced that people who do not want to perform military service for religious or moral reasons will be able to exercise their right to refuse. In this case, instead of serving in the army, they will undergo three months of civil defense training or four months of service in field units. Refusal without justification or failure to comply with the order will result in a fine of up to €1,320.
The obligation to conscript does not apply to women, but they will be able to voluntarily take part in military training, which is one of the conditions for admission to active service in the army. Women who complete the course will also be able to join the reserve forces.
“The aim of the program is to prepare young people to act in emergency situations and to strengthen national resilience. Trained conscripts will become an important element of the reserves of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia and will contribute to increasing the country's defense readiness,” the Croatian Ministry of Defense emphasized in a statement.
