Stocker signals willingness to compromise on military service reform

Previously, the Chancellor as well as Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) had insisted on implementing the "Österreich plus" model preferred by the Military Service Commission. This provides for eight months of basic military service plus two months of militia exercises as well as at least twelve months of civilian service. Now Stocker has put forward a "6 plus 3" model as an alternative.

Reaction from the SPÖ

To the "Kronen Zeitung," Stocker said: "Ob es sechs plus drei oder 6 plus 100 ist, ist letztlich eine semantische Frage. Weil drei Monate 92 Tage sind." This at least meets the SPÖ halfway, which is calling for a "6 plus 2" model. The SPÖ had most recently spoken out in favor of a 6+2 model for military service and also for mandatory exercises in civilian service.

SPÖ defense spokesperson Robert Laimer reacted accordingly positively: "Die Verhandlungen zur Wehrpflicht laufen intensiv. Es ist positiv, wenn das SPÖ-'Modell der Mitte', das wir vorgeschlagen haben, nun als gemeinsamer Kompromiss diskutiert wird." The SPÖ's idea was to reintroduce the two-month weapons exercises that had been abolished by former Defense Minister Günther Platter.

The models of the Military Service Commission

The Military Service Commission had presented several models in its report presented in January. These include the "Österreich PLUS" model with eight months of basic military service and two months of militia exercises, as well as the so-called staged model, which provides for a two-month, blocked troop exercise within 18 months after basic military service, after which militia exercises totaling 40 days are planned. A "9 plus 2" model with longer training was also mentioned in the report.

Chairman of the Military Service Commission is Erwin Hameseder, who serves as Lieutenant General and Militia Commissioner of the Federal Government. Hameseder argues that sound training takes at least eight months: "Damit unsere Soldaten im modernen Gefechtsfeld einsatzbereit sind, kommen wir mit 6 Monaten Ausbildung und zwei Monate Übungen nicht durch." He described a "6 plus 2" model as a "Null-Lösung, die vor 20 Jahren funktioniert hat."

Criticism from Hameseder

Hameseder also emphasized: "Ein Rosinenpicken zwischen den Modellen kommt nicht infrage." If "8+2" cannot be implemented for political-ideological reasons, the staged model had been recommended. According to his calculations, the additional costs of the staged model compared to the "Österreich Plus" model amount to at least 200 million, more likely 250 million euros per year.

The NEOS had previously been much further apart: they had most recently advocated a volunteer model, which is rejected by the Chairman of the Military Service Commission Hameseder as "völlig inakzeptabel." According to reports, however, the NEOS would only go along with two months plus. NEOS Secretary General Douglas Hoyos said: "Es geht nicht um irgendwelche Zahlenspiele, es geht nicht um hier ein, zwei, drei Monate weniger und da ein, zwei, drei Monate mehr."

Position of the NEOS

Stocker also spoke out in favor of extending civilian service in parallel to twelve months, "um das Gleichgewicht zu wahren". He advocates orienting oneself toward the model proposed by the Military Service Commission and wants no "verwaschenen Lösungen". An agreement is to be reached by summer, by the summer cabinet meeting on July 27.

Criticism of the coalition's "Zahlenspiele" came from the Greens. FP defense spokesperson Volker Reifenberger advocated implementing the "8 plus 2" model proposed by the expert commission. Implementation of a model from summer/autumn 2027 is considered realistic.

Costs and timeline

The Military Service Commission had provided for six months of basic military service plus 100 days of exercises as an option in its report. The "staged model" – 6 months plus 100 days – is according to the Commission's calculations significantly more expensive than the "Österreich Plus" model. Hameseder asked: "In einer Zeit, in der Österreich jedem Euro nachläuft, wählen wir allfällig ein Modell aus, das wesentlich teurer ist als '8+2'?"

Stocker said in the KURIER interview that he wants a solution this summer. "Es wird weiter verhandelt, von einer Einigung zu sprechen, ist noch zu früh." Now everything depends on the NEOS – and they are not yet showing their hand. Making a reform, whichever model it turns out to be, effective as of 1.1.2027 is considered unrealistic.

The negotiations between the coalition partners ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS are in full swing. Stocker emphasized that the variant 6+3 or 6+100 he now mentioned also appears in the report of the Military Service Commission. This at least meets the SPÖ halfway, which is calling for a 6+2 model.

Overall, it is clear that the military service reform has become one of the central issues of Austrian domestic politics. The different positions of the parties reflect the various security policy and societal visions. A final decision is not expected until after further rounds of negotiations.