Serbia

Serbia Allocates Nearly €90 Million for Return of Mandatory Military Service

Serbia is preparing to bring back mandatory military service in 2026, allocating nearly €90 million over the next three years and modernizing barracks across the country to support an annual intake of 20,000 conscripts.

Chris Patkin

Chris Patkin

— 1 min read
Serbia Allocates Nearly €90 Million for Return of Mandatory Military Service
Photo: MoD Serbia

Serbia is formally preparing to reintroduce mandatory military service in 2026 and has allocated almost €90 million for conscription costs over the next three years, not including infrastructure development and construction. The plan marks one of the largest structural reforms of the Serbian Armed Forces since abolishing conscription in 2011.

According to the 2026 draft budget, annual spending for conscription will reach 3.37 billion dinars, projected evenly for 2026, 2027, and 2028. The total reaches approx. 86.5 million euros in operational costs related to training, personnel, food, logistics, uniforms, and support services for conscripts.

Training Model and Force Volume

The new format plans a shortened service duration of 75 days, including:

  • 15 days of field training,
  • the remaining time in barracks and structured classroom/discipline training,
  • an intake of 20,000 recruits per year.

Defense Minister Bratislav Gašić previously indicated that the first generation of conscripts will arrive in barracks in early 2026, possibly in January or March, depending on final parliamentary approval.

Infrastructure Expansion

Parallel to conscription spending, significant funds are earmarked for logistics and facilities:

  • Pančevo: 30 million dinars for construction and infrastructure in 2026
  • Priboj: 597 million dinars in 2026
  • Niš: 100 million dinars in 2026 and additional 200 million in 2027

According to prior budget execution data, 5.35 billion dinars (~€45.8 million) have already been spent on preparing facilities, including the refurbishment of 120 designated rooms for conscript accommodation.

The final prerequisite is legislative — the Serbian Parliament must adopt a new law on conscription, formally reinstating mandatory service. Once passed, the Armed Forces staffing and training process can begin immediately.

Context

Mandatory service in Serbia was abolished in January 2011, moving the Armed Forces to a professional‐service model. The current budget and political messaging clearly suggest a shift back toward mass reserve readiness and broader defense preparedness, aligned with regional rearmament trends.

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