The Danish government plans to expand the conscription system to women and increase the terms of conscription. This was announced by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Frederiksen noted that the defense of the country is one of the most honorable things, so the government proposes to expand the conscription system to ensure full equality between the sexes.
According to plans, the conscription for women should be expanded in 2026. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen noted that the bill must be passed no later than 2025 for its implementation from 2025.
The government plans to recruit young people to the Armed Forces on the same terms, regardless of gender. The minister also emphasized the need to ensure modern values and reflect Denmark's core values.
Over the past year, only 25 women volunteered for service among about 4,700 conscripts. In Denmark, conscripts are selected by lottery.
It is also planned to increase the term of fixed-term service from approximately 4 to 11 months. During 5 months, conscripts will undergo basic training, and the rest of the time will be devoted to obtaining a specific specialty.
The government plans to allocate an additional 40 billion crowns (about 5.3 billion euros) for defense needs in the next five years. Frederiksen noted that in 2024 and 2025, 2.4% of the country's GDP will be spent on defense, including military aid to Ukraine.
