The two neighboring and rival states Serbia and Croatia are aiming to bring back compulsory military service.
The announcement of the return of compulsory military service became a regional topic after Serbia decided to take this initiative. Compulsory military service in Croatia is expected to be three months. During military service, future soldiers will receive a salary of 700 Euros.
According to the estimates of experts in both countries, the current needs of the Armed Forces of Serbia are about 10,000 recruits per year, while the Armed Forces of Croatia would need about 2,600 recruits per year.
In Serbia, compulsory military service was abolished on January 1, 2011, since then only those who want to join the army appear as part of the Armed Forces.
The reintroduction of compulsory military service would cost between 90 and 130 million euros per year, depending on whether the training would last three or six months. According to unofficial estimates, the Serbian army currently has a personnel of about 25,000 people.
Few countries in Europe have compulsory military service.
European countries that have not abolished compulsory military service are Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Turkey, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Greece and Cyprus.