Number of military personnel in Romania decreased

In an interview with Euronews, Romanian Minister of National Defense Angel Tilver said that contrary to rumors, the introduction of compulsory military service is an exception, and the military personnel needed by the country will be provided by volunteers, Report informs.

"At least as long as I am a minister, compulsory military service is an exception. However, the ministry has concerns about the voluntary military service that provides the army reserve," he said.

The minister added that a draft law is being prepared that includes several months of military training for the 18–35 age group. The new law also envisages rewarding those who participate in the training.

According to Angel Tilver, 7,000 servicemen left the army last year for certain reasons:

"If the number of soldiers in the Romanian army used to be more than 320,000, now it is about 75–80,000. From the quantitative point of view, the army has been reduced, and the operational requirements are related to a situation that has not been seen in Europe for a very long time."