On November 23, 2025, two major European powers—Greece and Germany—took bold steps to reshape their armed forces, unveiling draft bills aimed at modernizing their militaries and responding to the continent’s shifting security landscape. While Greece’s Ministry of Defense opened public consultation on a proposal allowing women to voluntarily enlist in the Hellenic Armed Forces, Germany’s coalition government advanced a sweeping reform to expand its military ranks and potentially reintroduce elements of conscription. Both moves reflect a broader European reckoning with defense needs in the face of mounting threats from Russia and evolving U.S. foreign policy.
The Greek draft bill, as reported by local sources, marks a historic activation of a provision dating back to 1977. For decades, the possibility of women enlisting in the Greek military existed only on paper. Now, the government is seeking to make it a reality. Under the proposed framework, women aged 20 to 26 will be eligible to join the military on a voluntary basis, acquiring the same status, responsibilities, and legal obligations as their male counterparts. The initial service period will last 12 months, after which participants may continue as short-term reassignment soldiers, in line with existing regulations.
Upon reaching the age of 40, these volunteers would be transferred to the reserve and could be called up during times of mobilization, depending on operational needs determined by the Army General Staff. The Ministry of Defense has set a clear application window: aspiring recruits must submit their paperwork to the Military Enlistment Directorate of the General Staff between January 1 and March 31 each year. The number of available positions, however, will fluctuate annually based on the needs of the Armed Forces.
This initiative comes as the Greek military continues to rely on compulsory service for men aged 19 to 45, with duty ranging from six to 12 months depending on individual circumstances. Women, up to now, have served exclusively as professional officers after graduating from military academies. According to Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, women currently make up about 17% of the Hellenic Armed Forces’ personnel—a figure that aligns with global averages. The draft bill, open for public comment until December 5, 2025, is widely seen as a significant step toward gender parity and modernization in the Greek military.
Meanwhile, Germany is grappling with its own defense overhaul. The coalition government’s draft bill, announced on the same day as Greece’s, is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ambition to position Germany as a leader in European defense. The plan is nothing if not ambitious: by 2035, Germany aims to increase its professional soldiers from about 180,000 to 260,000 and add 200,000 reservists. The first emphasis will be on voluntary service, sweetened by more attractive incentives, including a starting salary of roughly 2,600 euros per month—about 450 euros higher than current levels.
But incentives alone may not be enough. If recruitment quotas aren’t met, the German government reserves the right to reintroduce compulsory conscription. Starting in 2026, every 18-year-old citizen will receive a questionnaire about their willingness to serve; for men, responding will be mandatory. By 2027, 18-year-old men will also be subject to mandatory medical examinations. The bill is expected to be approved by the Bundestag by the end of 2025 and take effect on January 1, 2026.
Germany’s defense reforms are set against a backdrop of heightened security concerns. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Berlin has dramatically boosted defense spending and invested in modernizing the Bundeswehr. European partners, too, are watching closely, as Germany’s geographic position and military potential make it a lynchpin in NATO’s conventional defense strategy. Mina Olander, associate fellow at Chatham House, told CNN, “If plans to reach new personnel targets materialize, that would be a big step for Europe, and it is unlikely to happen before the 2030s.”
The debate over the future of Germany’s armed forces has been anything but straightforward. The coalition spent months considering various models, including a “lottery draft” that would select youth for medical examination by random draw. Ultimately, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized incentives over coercion, stating, “The lesson is quite clear: the more capable our armed forces are at deterrence and defense through equipment, training and personnel, the less likely we are to be drawn into conflict.” Pistorius also asserted, “Our new conscription model is quite modern. It is very modern. And it could serve as an example for other countries.”
Public opinion in Germany is deeply divided. Some on the left oppose the return of compulsory service, while others see voluntary military staffing as a pragmatic way to strengthen national defense. Youth attitudes are similarly mixed: some young people acknowledge the need to defend the country within NATO, while others are reluctant to see their life plans disrupted by military obligations. Since the war in Ukraine began, there has been a noticeable uptick in inquiries about draft restrictions, suggesting that the issue is far from settled in the public’s mind.
Germany’s defense policy has undergone a sea change since 2022. The country previously had mandatory military service for men aged 18 to 23, but this was abolished in 2011 in favor of a fully voluntary army. The current reform represents a significant recalibration, reflecting both external pressures and internal debates about national identity and responsibility. Chancellor Merz summed up the government’s approach succinctly: “Only power and modernization can preserve peace.”
Across the continent, the decisions made in Athens and Berlin are being watched closely by allies and adversaries alike. For Greece, opening the military to voluntary female enlistment is not only about equality but also about tapping into a broader pool of talent at a time when security concerns are rising. For Germany, the challenge is to balance voluntary service with the looming possibility of compulsory conscription, all while convincing a skeptical public that a stronger military is essential for peace and stability.
As both countries move forward with their respective reforms, the broader implications for European security are hard to overstate. The choices made today will shape not only the composition and capabilities of their armed forces but also the continent’s ability to respond to crises in an increasingly unpredictable world. With the public consultation in Greece and parliamentary debates in Germany underway, the next few months promise to be pivotal for the future of European defense.
How these proposals are received—by lawmakers, citizens, and the wider international community—will determine whether these ambitious reforms become reality or remain, like so many past initiatives, aspirations on paper.