The Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, announced that he will present a bill to establish a Voluntary military service in ItalyThe proposal calls for the creation of a reserve of up to 10 people, ready to act in emergencies or conflicts.
The announcement was made in Paris, following a meeting with the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin. On the same day, President Emmanuel Macron announced the return of French voluntary military service. Crosetto stated that the Italian initiative will follow a similar model.
According to him, the text will be taken to the Council of Ministers and then to Parliament. The objective is to guarantee the country's defense in the coming years, given an unstable international scenario. The minister highlighted that the project will address not only the number of military personnel, but also the structure and rules of the armed forces. Armed forces.
In an interview with the broadcaster Tg1Crosetto defended the proposal as a proportionate response to the “difficult times” the country is experiencing. He stressed that the model will be optional, and that any change needs to be debated broadly, “beyond the political majority.”
Current laws and what could change.
In Italy, mandatory military service was suspended in 2005 with the so-called Martino Law. The law maintained the possibility of conscription in exceptional situations. It also created the categories of volunteers with one-year or four-year contracts.
The new bill does not reinstate the mandatory requirement. The proposal is to create a military reserve with young people who enlist voluntarily. To date, the government has not released details on how the selection process or training will work.
Other European countries are following the same path.
In France, the new model will come into effect in 2026. The program will be aimed at young people aged 18 and 19 and will last 10 months. Participants will work only within the country. The goal is to start with 3 volunteers and reach 50 by 2035.
In Germany, there is also a bill under consideration. Starting in 2026, young people will undergo medical evaluation and will be able to opt for voluntary enlistment, lasting from 6 to 23 months. Submitting the questionnaire will be mandatory for boys, but optional for girls.
With this proposal, Italy joins the group of European countries that are reassessing their defense models and discussing new forms of voluntary military engagement.
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