Croatia Reintroduces Conscription Early 2026

Croatia's parliament voted on 24 October 2025 to reintroduce compulsory military service, reversing a 2008 abolition (vote 84-11, 30 abstentions). The programme is set to call about 4,000 recruits a year in five groups for two months of basic training beginning in early 2026, at an estimated annual cost of €23.7 million; conscripts will receive pay and travel/leave expenses and conscientious objectors may perform civilian service instead. Men aged 19–30 can be included under conditions and women may volunteer; authorities will begin medical checkups for those born in 2007 by year-end, and candidates can seek postponement or medical release. Training will be held at barracks in Knin, Slunj and Požega and will combine modern technology, crisis-response skills and reserve-force development. Defence Minister Ivan Anušić and officials said the change responds to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, climate-driven disasters and a broader European trend of bolstering defence readiness.