France Revives National Service for Young People

President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new form of mandatory national service for all French citizens. The program, called the "National Universal Service," will apply to 16-year-olds. "The only way to avoid danger is to prepare for it," President Macron stated. The initiative aims to promote social cohesion and patriotism. It also seeks to prepare the younger generation for future challenges. This move reintroduces a form of compulsory service 25 years after France phased out military conscription. The new program, however, is not a return to the year-long military service of the past. It will consist of a one-month placement focused on civic culture and voluntary engagement.