Conscription for all boys and girls would quickly cost €2.6 billion a year

Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) is advocating the reintroduction of conscription for all boys and girls. He is responding to school student protests in Wallonia and Brussels. According to Francken, conscription should instil discipline and allow young people to take part in a project for society. Labour economist Stijn Baert sees several obstacles, including an estimated cost of €2.6 billion a year.