Belgium

Conscription currently imposed?

No

Suspended 1993. Last conscripts demobilised 1995.

Could be reinstated, but only in time of war.

Conscientious objection first recognised

1964

Law of 3rd June on Status of Conscientious Objectors

CO release of professional soldiers

–

No specific provision. Early release can be sought but may be denied for operational reasons.

Minimum recruitment age

18 (nominally)

The formal requirement is to have completed mandatory education thus in fact a small number of 17 year olds are recruited each year.

Population

Total

% males 15-19

Thus approx. annual cohort reaching 18

11,914,000

2.9

69,101

Armed forces

Total strength

Of which conscripts

Compared to annual cohort above

22,900

-

33.1%

Military expenditure

$ (% change from 2022)

Per capita

% of GDP

$7,629m (+10.7%)

652.9

1.2%

Current situation

Feedback from the state

From the replies by the Belgian Ministry of Defence to the EBCO Questionnaire.

In 1994, conscription was suspended (not abolished) by the introduction of an article 1bis in the "dienstplichtwetten gecoördineerd op 30 april 1962/lois sur la milice coordonnées le 30 avril 1962". By deleting this article again, conscription can be reintroduced. This article can only be deleted by a majority vote by the Chamber of Representatives. The circumstances under which they would do so, are of a political nature.

The procedures which would apply already exist in legislation but the law has not been amended for 30 years and it is more than likely that a thorough update will be needed in the event of a reintroduction.

Arrangements for the exemption of conscientious objectors are determined in the “lois portant le statut des objecteurs de conscience, coordonnées le 20 février 1980". This law is the responsibility of the Federal Public Service Home Affairs.

Professional military recruitment is governed by the "loi du 28 février 2007 fixant le statut des militaires et candidats militaires du cadre actif des Forces armées". The duration of service initially required varies, depending on the duration of the candidacy, from 18 months (soldier) to 7 years (physician).

Auxiliary Officer: "loi du 23 décembre 1955 sur les officiers auxiliaires de la force aérienne, pilotes et navigateurs" and "loi du 11 novembre 2002 Relative aux officiers auxiliaires des Forces armées". The duration of service initially required is 13 years.

Military Limited Duration: "loi du 30 aoüt 2013 instituant la carrière militaire à durée limitée". The duration of service initially required is 8 years.

Military Voluntary Military Deployment: “loi du 10 janvier 2010 instituant l'engagement volontaire militaire et modifiant diverses lois applicables au personnel militaire". The duration of service initially required is a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 48 months.

Reserve Military: "loi du 16 mai 2001 portant statut des militaires du cadre de réserve des Forces armées". The duration of service initially required is 10 years.

All initial enlistments can be terminated/broken at any time at the request of the military.

No programmes which could be seen as preparatory to military recruitment an obligatory part of the secondary education curriculum.

 

Recruitment figures for 2022 and 2023, disaggregated by age and rank, were as follows:

 

2022

2023

Age

Officers

NCOs

Enlistees

Officers

NCOs

Enlistees

17

9

3

1

5

5

1

18

75

110

98

110

173

123

19

68

137

94

81

149

202

20

21

114

166

18

122

161

21

7

98

175

9

82

158

22

11

88

130

15

83

112

23

7

69

105

12

76

96

24

27

74

84

24

65

66

25

13

70

48

22

63

68

26

13

50

46

19

59

39

27

13

44

45

12

44

32

28

9

27

30

11

20

23

29

8

20

22

11

24

17

30

6

21

29

10

15

19

31

5

15

-

9

19

-

32

1

11

-

5

12

-

33

1

9

-

4

10

-

34+

-

-

-

1 (actual age 37)

-

-

TOTAL

294

160

1,073

378

1,021

1,105

GRAND TOTAL

2,327

 

 

2,504