Paris signals a shift towards structured voluntary service to bolster defence.

France is preparing a new voluntary military service aimed at channelling young people into the armed forces and reserves, the prime minister’s office signalled on Friday.

As part of a wider state reorganisation, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s team said the unit overseeing the Universal National Service civic scheme would be disbanded ahead of the creation of a more military-focused voluntary programme. The move advances President Emmanuel Macron’s July pledge to devise a fresh framework enabling young people to serve.

France’s current Universal National Service, launched in 2019, offers a month-long, optional civic placement for 15- to 17-year-olds and emphasises national values with limited military instruction. Participation has been underwhelming, while a separate voluntary military service has concentrated on civilian employability, such as driving licences. An updated National Strategic Review published in July called for refocusing these efforts on defence and recruitment.

The government insists there is no plan to revive conscription, abolished in 1997 by then-President Jacques Chirac. However, Paris is seeking to strengthen manpower to meet NATO commitments and reinforce deterrence against Russia, as European neighbours including Germany and Poland face recruitment pressures.

Details of the revamped French scheme, including duration, training content and pathways into active service or the reserves, have yet to be set out as the plan remains at a preparatory stage.

Source: Politico.