Alternative service compared

The European Committee of Social Rights treats civilian service longer than 1.5× military service as punitive. This table compares the countries covered. "Unclear" means sources conflict or the law is silent. Not legal advice.

Country	Tier	Conscription	Military	Alternative	Ratio (1.5× rule)	Run by	Non-religious grounds	Wartime	Professionals	Medical exemption
Austria	2	Active	6 mo	9 mo	1.50× ✓	Civilian	Yes	No	No	Recognised. Fitness is decided by the military recruitment commission (Stellungskommission) at your fitness examination.
Belgium	2	Suspended	—	10 mo	—	Civilian	Yes	No	No	Only relevant if conscription returns; it would be governed by the suspended militia laws.
Bulgaria	2	Suspended	—	—	—	None	No right	No	No	People unfit for wartime service are released (Defence and Armed Forces Act, Art. 120).
Croatia	2	Active	2 mo	4 mo	2.00× ✗ over 1.5×	Civilian	Yes	Unclear	No	Recognised. The Ministry of Defence assesses medical and psychological fitness; people found unfit are exempted.
Cyprus	2	Active	14 mo	19 mo	1.36× ✓	Military	Yes	Unclear	No	Recognised. Assessed by National Guard medical boards.
Czechia	2	Suspended	—	—	—	Civilian	Yes	Yes	Unclear	A final decision that you are unfit for active service ends your military obligation.
Denmark	2	Active	11 mo	11 mo	1.00× ✓	Military	Yes	Unclear	No	Recognised. Assessed at the Defence Day / conscription examination.
Estonia	2	Active	8 mo	12 mo	1.50× ✓	Military	Yes	Unclear	No	Recognised. Assessed by doctors appointed by the Defence Resources Agency.
Finland	2	Active	5.5 mo	11.4 mo	2.10× ✗ over 1.5×	Civilian	Yes	Yes	No	Recognised. Fitness is assessed by Defence Forces call-up boards; objectors can also be exempted from civilian service on health grounds.
France	2	Suspended	—	—	2.00× ✗ over 1.5×	Civilian	Yes	Unclear	No	Only relevant if conscription returns (suspended rules of the Code du service national).
Germany	1	Suspended	—	—	1.00× ✓	Civilian	Yes	Yes	Yes	Recognised. Bundeswehr doctors carry out the medical examination, compulsory from 1 July 2027 for men born from 2008; people who want to refuse must attend too.
Greece	2	Active	12 mo	15 mo	1.67× ✗ over 1.5×	Military	Yes	Unclear	No	Recognised. Assessed by military health committees; Law 5265/2026 tightened some exemptions, including on psychiatric grounds.
Hungary	2	Suspended	—	—	1.00× ✓	Military	Yes	Yes	No	Fitness would be assessed by medical and psychological checks during call-up under Act CXL of 2021, which only happens if conscription is ordered in wartime. Details not confirmed in our research.
Ireland	2	Never existed	—	—	—	None	No right	No	No	Not applicable (no conscription).
Italy	2	Suspended	—	—	1.00× ✓	Civilian	Yes	Yes	No	Only relevant if conscription returns; military medical assessment would apply.
Latvia	2	Active	11 mo	11 mo	1.00× ✓	Military	Yes	Unclear	No	Recognised. Assessed by the Ministry of Defence together with the armed forces.
Lithuania	2	Active	9 mo	12 mo	1.33× ✓	Civilian	Yes	Unclear	Unclear	Recognised. Military medical commissions for conscripts; civilian healthcare checks for alternative service.
Luxembourg	2	Abolished	—	—	—	None	No right	No	No	Not applicable (no conscription).
Malta	2	Never existed	—	—	—	None	No right	No	No	Not applicable (no conscription).
Netherlands	1	Suspended	—	—	1.33× ✓	Civilian	Yes	Yes	Yes	Medical fitness would be assessed if call-up returns. The 2026 Dienmodel plan could make medical checks compulsory after a law change.
Poland	2	Suspended	9 mo	18 mo	2.00× ✗ over 1.5×	Civilian	Yes	Unclear	No	Recognised. Assessed by medical commissions during military qualification.
Portugal	1	Suspended	—	—	—	Civilian	Yes	Yes	Yes	Standard medical classification under the Military Service Law.
Romania	2	Suspended	—	—	—	None	Yes	Unclear	No	Not detailed in our research. Consult a lawyer.
Slovakia	2	Suspended	—	—	—	Civilian	Yes	No	No	Recognised. Assessed at recruitment or in a health-fitness survey.
Slovenia	1	Suspended	7 mo	7 mo	1.00× ✓	Civilian	Yes	Unclear	No	Recognised. Assessed at recruitment by the defence administration's medical examinations.
Spain	2	Suspended	—	—	—	Civilian	Yes	Yes	No	Compulsory reservists undergo medical, psychological and aptitude checks when activated.
Sweden	2	Active	11 mo	11 mo	1.00× ✓	Civilian	Yes	Yes	No	Recognised. Assessed at enlistment testing (mönstring) by the Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency.
Ukraine	3	Wartime mobilisation	—	—	—	None	No right	No	No	In law, yes, through military medical commissions (VLK), but reports show examinations are rushed or skipped.
United Kingdom	2	Abolished	—	—	—	None	Yes	Unclear	Yes	Not applicable (voluntary service; normal medical discharge).