French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to outline a new voluntary military service during a visit to the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade base in Varces on Thursday, signalling a notable shift three decades after conscription was abolished in 1996 under Jacques Chirac. Speaking to RTL radio, Macron said the aim is to strengthen the bond between the armed forces and the nation by modernising France’s national service model.
The idea has lingered since his 2017 campaign, which produced the Universal National Service (SNU), a civilian programme designed to boost civic engagement. However, the SNU struggled with high costs, logistical problems and low participation, and was later shelved.
Macron stressed the revamped scheme would remain voluntary and firmly rejected claims it could lead to deployments to Ukraine. “We are not going to send our young people to Ukraine,” he said, dismissing what he called dangerous confusion.
Costs remain a major concern. A similar programme for 70,000 participants could cost €1.7 billion annually, funding not currently included in France’s defence budget. As security tensions rise across Europe, France joins several nations rethinking military service amid growing strategic uncertainty.
