French President Emmanuel Macron has announced the creation of a new voluntary national military service, which is set to launch next summer. This initiative is an attempt to rethink the former civilian format of the Service National Universel (SNU) and replace it with a militarised programme focused on volunteers.
The new scheme is designed for young people aged 18 and over and involves ten months of service with basic military training. Volunteers will receive a monthly allowance of €800-1,000. Participation remains voluntary, and there are no plans for compulsory mobilisation.
According to the authorities’ plan, the first wave of recruitment will cover 2,000-3,000 people. Over time, it is planned to scale up the project so that by 2035 the number of participants will reach 50,000. At the same time, according to the president, this service does not involve sending young French people to the front, especially to Ukraine. Nevertheless, the announcement has not been without criticism: some politicians and public figures note that without a clear definition of tasks and conditions of service, the volunteer format could disappoint expectations or turn into a tool for the militarisation of young people.
