Emmanuel Macron announced this Thursday the creation of a new voluntary national service with an exclusively military character. The measure was presented during the French President’s speech at the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade, in Varces, in the Isère region, advances the “The World”.
With the duration of ten monthsservice a young people aged between 18 and 19. Macron reinforced that this is an entirely voluntary initiative and that it will take place “exclusively in national territory”ruling out any possibility of involvement of participants in conflicts abroad, particularly in Ukraine.
The head of state said that recruitment may be extended to other age groups in “exceptional circumstances”upon parliamentary authorization. THE project will start in summer of 2026 with around 3000 volunteersexpected to reach 10 thousand participants in 2030 and 50 thousand per year in 2035.
“Our youth yearn for civic involvement”, stated the French President, considering that young people are ready “to defend the homeland”. National service will be financed through the revision of the military programming law for 2026-2030, providing for a additional budget exceeding two billion euros.
For Macron, it is about “a significant and essential effort” to reinforce national cohesion and the military preparation of youth, in a context in which defense and security are strategic priorities for the country.