Table: Conscription and conscientious objection in the European Union
| Country | Conscription | CO for conscripts | CO for professional soldiers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| before military service |
during/after military service |
|||
| Austria | Yes | Yes | No (1) | No |
| Belgium | Suspended | Yes (2) | No | No |
| Bulgaria | Suspended | Yes (2) | No | No |
| Cyprus | Yes | Yes (3) | No | No |
| Czech Republic | Suspended | Yes (2) | No | No |
| Denmark | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Estonia | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Finland | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| France | Suspended | Yes (2) | No | |
| Germany | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Greece | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Hungary | Suspended | Yes (2) | No (4) | No |
| Ireland | No | n.a. | n.a. | No |
| Italy | Suspended | Yes (2) | No | |
| Latvia | Suspended | Yes (2) | No | |
| Lithuania | Yes | Yes (5) | No | No |
| Luxembourg | No | n.a. | n.a. | No |
| Malta | No | n.a. | n.a. | No |
| Poland | Yes (6) | Yes | No | No |
| Portugal | No (7) | No | ||
| Romania | No | n.a. | n.a. | No |
| Slovakia | Suspended | Yes (2) | No | No |
| Slovenia | No | n.a. | n.a. | No |
| Spain | Suspended | Yes (2) | No | |
| Sweden | Yes (8) | Yes | Yes | No |
| The Netherlands | Suspended | Yes (2) | Yes (2) | No |
| United Kingdom | No | n.a. | n.a. | Yes |
| Candidate countries | ||||
| Croatia | Suspended | Yes (2) | Yes (2) | No |
| Macedonia | No | n.a. | n.a. | No |
| Turkey | Yes | No | No | No |
Notes:
(1) Applications of reservists are possible, but only three years after the beginning of their military service
(2) Conscription is only suspended. Conscientious objection will be available should it be reintroduced
(3) Northern Cyprus does not recognise the right to CO
(4) In case conscription will be reintroduced, CO is only possible before a conscript takes the oath
(5) Although conscientious objection is recognised, a genuinely civilian substitute service is not available
(6) Conscription is likely to be phased out in 2010-2012
(8) Conscription might soon be abolished. Substitute service for conscientious objectors will be abolished by the end of 2008.
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