European countries are now considering the possibility of keeping military personnel in the army, because their number is becoming smaller over the years.

There are not enough soldiers in European countries, because they continue to leave just when NATO needs them. This week, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu presented a plan to retain the military, which includes motivating military personnel to remain in the army. This happened after an annual report was submitted to the German parliament that in 2023, about 1,537 soldiers left the Bundeswehr and reduced its strength to 181,514 troops, Politico writes.

“These conversations are now taking place in all capitals, in all democratic countries that have professional armies without conscription. At NATO meetings we can talk about equipment, but now we also talk about … the level of maintenance,” Lecornu said.

The authors of the material note that while Europe is engaged in rearmament against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, countries such as Croatia are thinking about returning conscription to the army. But, for example, Denmark plans to extend military conscription to women.

“Germany abolished conscription in 2011, but with many military personnel aging and leaving the service, reinstating some kind of national service system is again being discussed. For countries that rely on professional armies, the challenge is to the military is attractive – which is difficult to do in an environment of low unemployment, fierce competition from the private sector and widespread use of remote work,” the article explains.

Politico adds that in France, military personnel remain in the army mostly for a year less than before. The UK has an annual manpower shortfall of 1,100 soldiers, the equivalent of two infantry battalions, even though the government has contracted private recruiting firm Capita.

The authors of the article note that in this matter money plays an important role in order for people to remain in the army. One of the key objectives of France’s plan is to increase old-age pensions and wages. However, the problem is that the conditions of service are not very attractive, because in the army there are such nuances as chronic overtime, being away from home for many months and missed periods of recuperation.

“The problem is not recruitment, but maintenance, we need to support families,” Admiral Lisa Franchetti, head of naval operations for the US Navy, emphasized at a conference in Paris earlier this year.

At the same time, the new Polish government at the beginning of 2024 announced an increase in salaries for military personnel by about 20% in order to support them. The minimum monthly salary for a Polish soldier is 4,960 zlotys (1,150 euros) to 6,000 zlotys (1,351 euros). Also, due to the threat from the Russian Federation, the size of the Polish army increased from 95,000 in 2015 to 215,000 this year.

France’s plan, meanwhile, includes assistance in finding housing, access to health care and child care, meaning married couples who both work in the armed forces, even if one of them is a civilian, can transfer together to another position.

“I prefer to reduce the number of recruits in order to improve the maintenance of personnel, than to continue the recruitment, as a result of which the number of people retained is constantly decreasing,” assured French Armed Forces Minister Lecornu.

Deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine: latest news

Recently, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that NATO troops are already in Ukraine. According to the publication, they control the weapons supplied to Kyiv and conduct reconnaissance operations and exercises.

Also, French President Emmanuel Macron previously confirmed his plans to deploy Western troops in Ukraine, which he announced at the end of February. According to him, a ground operation involving Western troops in Ukraine may be necessary “at some point.”

“Perhaps at some point – I don’t want it, I won’t take the lead – we will have to carry out operations on the ground, whatever they may be, to counter Russian forces. France’s strength is that we can do this “, noted the French leader.