The government is preparing the draft law on "Organization and operation of the Reserve Force in the Republic of Albania". Through it, it is intended to create a structure of 2100 military reservists which will be organized and will function as an integral part of the structure of the Armed Forces.
This draft law also comes as a necessity after NATO's continuous demands regarding Russian aggression in Ukraine. The evaluation of the criteria of the civilians who will participate in the structure of the reservists will be approved by the Ministry of Defense, with the proposal of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The duration of reservist military service is from 14 to 45 days per year. For the needs of military exercises, which last longer, the Minister of Defense orders the joining of training days of two years, but not more than 45 days. The time of reserve military service can be extended only in cases where extraordinary measures are imposed.
Also, with the new draft, the age of reservist military service increases, which goes up to 60 years for officers, while with the old law of 2003, military service in reservists was mandatory until the age of 50.
With the new draft, it is proposed that the reserve military service is performed by Albanian citizens up to 50 years old for soldiers, up to 55 years old for non-commissioned officers, up to 60 years old for officers.
Reservists will be at the side of the FA and in NATO missions, or in international military missions directed by the UN/NATO/EU for regional and global security.
The draft also provides for the cases when the reservist applicant engages in politics. If a reservist runs for or is elected in the general or local elections, then the call-up period for reservist military service is postponed.
Call-up is also postponed in cases where the reservist is disabled, the family is in economic difficulties or continues higher studies.
The citizen who is activated to perform reservist military service has the right to keep his job. Likewise, state and private entities are obliged to return him to his previous place of work or to another equivalent place.
In cases of activation of the military in the reserve military service, the private entity is recognized the right to compensation to the extent and according to the criteria and procedures determined by the decision of the Council of Ministers.