A limited form of military service will be re-introduced in France in response to growing fears of a confrontation with Russia. More than 25 years after conscription was phased out, the plan will see young men and women volunteering for a paid 10 months of military training.
The only way to avoid danger is to prepare for it, President Emmanuel Macron said while announcing the plan at an infantry base near Grenoble in south-east France. We need to mobilise, mobilising the nation to defend itself, to be ready and remain respected.
The new national service will be brought in gradually from next summer, mainly for 18- and 19-year-olds, who will receive at least €800 (£700) a month.
In this uncertain world where might triumphs over right, war is in the present tense, said Macron. The armed forces would benefit from motivated young French men and women, he added: It is an act of trust in our youth.
Initially, numbers will be restricted to 3,000 next year, but this should rise to 50,000 by 2035. France currently has around 200,000 military personnel and a further 47,000 reservists. The new scheme should usher in a three-tier structure, comprising professionals, reservists and volunteers.
The change brings France in line with other European countries that have launched military service schemes - with varying parameters - because of fears of Russian aggression. Belgium, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Latvia have introduced or maintained various forms of military service, while Germany is planning something similar.
French military chiefs are broadly in favour of the new measure, which they hope will create a reservoir of trained personnel able to back up professional soldiers and replace them in non-frontline tasks. They also hope that many volunteers will stay on to lead full military careers.
Despite the broadly favorable reception of the plan, doubts remain regarding its funding and long-term viability amidst France's looming debt crisis.
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