Emmanuel Macron announces a “major overhaul” of the Universal National Service and rules out the return of mandatory military service

A reform in response to the nation’s needs
In an interview with several regional newspapers on March 15, 2025, Emmanuel Macron announced that he would present a “major overhaul” of the Universal National Service (SNU) in the coming weeks. The president clarified that this revision aims to meet the current needs of the nation and the identified priorities, while adapting to new social, economic, and geopolitical realities. According to him, this reform could offer new forms of national service while strengthening the mobilization of the youth.

The return of mandatory military service ruled out
The head of state also categorically rejected the possibility of reinstating mandatory military service. He explained that the current model of a professional army, focused on operational readiness, no longer allowed for such a measure. “We no longer have the logistics required to manage 800,000 young people as we did in the past,” he stated. The president added that the professionalization of the French military and the increase in military reserves under the ongoing military programming law had already adapted the army to contemporary challenges.

A new vision of societal mobilization
Emmanuel Macron also emphasized the need to strengthen the mobilization of society in response to current crises, highlighting that this was part of his 2022 program. According to him, it is crucial to “consolidate societal mobilization” in response to multifaceted threats, such as those related to the war in Ukraine and the evolution of European defense. While ruling out the return of mandatory military service, he expressed his desire to explore new forms of civilian and military service to meet the needs of the nation and its citizens in an ever-changing global context.