The Lithuanian parliament on Wednesday gave its initial backing to the Defence Ministry’s proposed conscription reform.
The bill will now be considered by parliamentary committees and the MPs will vote on it again during the spring session.
Under the new model, the conscription age limit would be set at 18-21, instead of the existing 18-23, and studies in higher education establishments would not be seen as a reason to postpone military service.
Higher education students will be required to perform their service, either by attending the Junior Officer Commanders’ training or by joining the National Defence Volunteer Force, thus combining it with their studies. They could also suspend their studies and perform normal service.
Young men on the conscript lists who are studying and living abroad will have the same choices as those studying and living in Lithuania.
The reform also includes the reduction of the service time from nine to six months for some conscripts.
The amendments are also aimed at enabling those who want to serve but are unable to perform compulsory military service because of their health condition. They will have to declare their willingness to serve, and the duration and form of service will be decided by the chief of defence.
In addition, it is proposed to increase the duration of alternative service from 10 to 12 months.
Volunteers would be able to serve between the ages of 18 and 38, unchanged from now.
The army estimates that up to 7,000 young men graduate from school each year and are fit for service.
Plans to reform conscription in Lithuania were announced in February this year, while the respective bills were registered in August and approved by the government in December.
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