ZAGREB, January 25, 2018 – Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, who on Thursday informed lawmakers of the proposed amendments to the Law on Defence, said that the changes were aimed at upgrading and enhancing the defence system and at making Croatia’s armed forces stronger and ready for future challenges, whereas a part of the opposition expressed suspicion that the changes would actually usher in conscription.
The purpose of the proposed changes is to broaden the legislative basis for more efficient activity of the defence sector that is supposed to take over a key role in the homeland security system, in line with the requirements laid down in the National Security Strategy and the legislation on the homeland security system, he said.
The amendments envisage mandatory reservist duty, with contractual and mobilised reservist units. During 2017, over 10,000 people underwent 10-day training as reservists, and this year the number is to increase to 20,000 according to Krstičević’s explanation. The Minister also underscored the figures showing a rising interest in voluntary military training.
Vesna Pusić of the opposition GLAS party raised the question whether this could in fact be the first steps to reintroduce conscription after it was abolished in 2007. “If the government reassures us that that is not the case, we will vote for the amended legislation,” said Pusić, a former foreign minister.
Social Democrat (SDP) lawmaker Franko Vidović expressed fear that this could be the further militarisation of the defence and security system to the detriment of the civilian sector. The SDP MP criticised the engagement of the army in efforts to put out wildfires as a stopgap measure.
The Minister responded that the Croatian armed forces had three basic tasks: defending the country, providing collective security and offering assistance to civilian institutions. The intention is to upgrade the system in the present-day context, Krstičević said adding that conscription was not abolished but frozen.
Bridge lawmaker Ines Strenja Linić said that Croatia should build reservist forces according to the model of the U.S. National Guard.
Both the ruling majority and the opposition welcomed the proposed amendments to the legislation on the service in the armed forces aimed at enhancing the standards and work conditions of service-people and improving conditions for their professional development.
