French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to unveil the contours of a new voluntary military service on Thursday during a visit to the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade base in Varces, in the country’s southeast.
The announcement marks a significant shift, three decades after former President Jacques Chirac abolished mandatory conscription in 1996.
Speaking to French radio RTL on Tuesday morning, Macron defended the need to tighten the bond between citizens and the armed forces.
“We must strengthen the pact between the armed forces and the nation,” he said, emphasising that the new programme aims to modernise France’s national service framework.
‘We must dispel any confusion’
The idea of reinstating some form of national service has lingered since Macron’s first presidential campaign in 2017.
His original proposal led to the creation of the Universal National Service (SNU), a civilian-focused programme intended to promote civic engagement among young people.
However, the SNU faced high costs, implementation problems and limited uptake. It was ultimately shelved after Sébastien Lecornu became prime minister in September.
In his RTL interview, he did not confirm a return to compulsory service but reiterated that the project will remain voluntary.
Above all, he sought to dispel fears that the revamped programme could involve deployments to Ukraine.
“We must, in any case, immediately dispel any confusion that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine,” Macron insisted. “That is not at all what this is about.”
Last Tuesday, General of the French Armed Forces Fabien Mandon sent shockwaves after he told the Congress of French Mayors that France risks failure if it is not prepared to accept “losing our children” to “protect what we are.”
The financial implications of the new programme remain one of its most significant question marks.
According to a note from the High Commissioner for Planning, a comparable scheme for 70,000 participants would cost €1.7 billion annually. This spending is not included in France’s current 2024–2030 military budget law.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has also announced he will soon engage Parliament on broader defence issues, aiming for a vote in both chambers.
Europe’s shifting opinion on military service
France is far from alone in reconsidering its approach to military preparedness amid heightened tensions with Russia. Several European countries have recently expanded or revived national service programmes.
Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany have all signalled interest in voluntary or selective conscription models.
Berlin passed a law in August introducing a voluntary military service, with questionnaires to be sent to all 18-year-olds starting in 2026 to assess their skills and interest in joining the Bundeswehr.
Ten EU countries still maintain or have reintroduced compulsory service: Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden.
