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Croatia Reintroduces Conscription as Hundreds of Teenagers Begin Military Training

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Hundreds of teenagers in Croatia have begun compulsory military service after the government reinstated conscription for the first time since it was abolished in 2008. Around 800 recruits reported to army barracks across the country, where they received their equipment and accommodation assignments before starting two months of training. Officials said more than half of the recruits volunteered for the programme, while about 10% of them are women, who are not required to serve under the new policy.

According to the Armed Forces of Croatia, the training programme will combine traditional military drills with modern defence skills such as drone operation, cyberwarfare basics and counter-drone protection. Chief of the General Staff Tihomir Kundid said recruits would be gradually introduced to military discipline to avoid excessive stress. The government also confirmed that only a small number of people have registered as conscientious objectors, who will instead complete four months of civilian service with lower financial allowances.

Officials say the decision to restore conscription reflects growing security concerns in Europe following the war in Ukraine. Defence Minister Ivan Anusic noted that the region’s security environment has changed significantly in recent years, prompting Croatia to strengthen its defence readiness. The move also reflects a broader trend across Europe, with several NATO member states reintroducing or maintaining mandatory military service amid rising geopolitical tensions.

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Iceland Plans Autumn Referendum on Restarting EU Membership Talks

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Iceland’s government is preparing to propose a referendum on whether to restart negotiations to join the European Union. According to public broadcaster RUV, the government is expected to submit a bill to parliament next week seeking approval to hold the vote later this year.

Sources cited by the broadcaster suggest the referendum is most likely to take place in late September. If approved, the vote would decide whether the country should resume EU accession talks that were abandoned in 2013 after four years of negotiations.

Interest in EU membership has grown again in recent years due to rising living costs and geopolitical tensions following the war in Ukraine. Political developments, including remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about annexing Greenland, have also added urgency to the debate over Iceland’s future ties with the European Union.

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Moscow Cuts Investment as Russia’s Regional Budget Strains Deepen

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Russia’s capital city Moscow will reduce its investment programme for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting growing financial pressure across the country’s regional governments. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said revenue growth in the first two months of the year slowed to 2%, far below the expected 6.5%, prompting the city to cut planned 2026 investments by 10% from 1.2 trillion roubles and reduce municipal staff by 15%.

The move reflects broader fiscal challenges in Russia as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year. The country’s consolidated budget deficit, which includes both federal and regional accounts, widened sharply to 8.3 trillion roubles in 2025, or 3.9% of GDP—more than double the previous year. While the federal government maintains that national debt remains manageable, many regions are increasingly relying on expensive commercial bank loans as concessional federal funding declines.

Regional finances are also under pressure due to slowing economic growth and weaker corporate profits. Official data shows corporate profits fell 5.5% in the first eleven months of 2025, contributing to a rise in deficit-running regions from 50 to 74. Analysts warn that if economic growth does not recover, regional governments may be forced to cut spending on infrastructure and development projects while also coping with rising social and military-related expenditures.

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