ZAGREB: Following a vote by Croatian lawmakers on Friday, the Balkan nation has decided to reinstate mandatory military service.

This move comes amid growing unrest across the globe, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In 2008, Croatia abolished conscription, a year before joining NATO, with the intention of professionalizing its military.

However, recent international tensions have prompted top officials to argue for the restoration of basic military training as a means to bolster Croatia's defense forces.

Defense Minister Ivan Anusic, from the ruling conservative HDZ party, emphasized that escalating threats necessitate quick and effective action from all segments of society.

He stressed the importance of national defense in the face of any emerging threat.

Under the new policy, approximately 18,000 men annually will be required to enlist at the age of 18 for two months of training.

The initiative is slated to commence next year.

While women are exempt from conscription, conscientious objectors may serve a shorter term in civil service roles, including disaster response teams.

The amendments were passed with 84 deputies supporting changes to the defense law and 110 deputies voting in favor of altering the armed forces law.

Conscription will offer regular conscripts a monthly stipend of €1,100 ($1,280), while the compensation for those opting for civil service has yet to be determined, though it may be significantly lower.

Additionally, military conscripts will have an advantage when applying for public and state-run positions following their service.

Critics from the left-wing faction argue that the law unfairly discriminates against women and individuals who choose civil protection roles by offering them a lower wage and not extending the same job preference benefits.

Croatia, with its population of 3.8 million, is a NATO member nation and joined the European Union in 2013.