New citizen service in Luxembourg: compulsory service for people under 35!

New citizen service in Luxembourg: compulsory service for people under 35!

On June 9, 2025, a petition (number 3610) was launched to introduce a “biergerlechen Déngscht” in Luxembourg. The aim of this initiative is to introduce a mandatory service for citizens under 35 years of age. The duration of the service is expected to be six months and includes paid, certified training in key areas such as healthcare, social services, emergency services and the military. This measure is intended to make the country more resilient to crises and serve as a “school of life”. wort.lu reported.

The idea for the “biergerlechen Déngscht” is based on the experiences of the author, who himself did community service in Germany, particularly with the Red Cross. In Germany, community service was often considered a “second choice” after the Bundeswehr, which resulted in longer service for those doing community service. The community service system has been criticized in the past as bureaucratic and ideological. The fact that women were exempt from compulsory community service is also seen as patriarchal.

The challenges of community service

The debate about community service in Germany reflects a deeper social problem. Since compulsory military service was suspended in 2011, community service, which offered over 2.5 million young men the opportunity to work in social institutions after they conscientiously refused military service, also ended. In the Federal Republic of Germany, conscientious objectors were often considered social outsiders until the 1960s and were often derogatorily referred to as “shirkers”. It was only with the social change in thinking from the 1970s onwards that the reputation of those doing community service, who were finally recognized as “everyday heroes”, grew to such an extent bpb.de.

The ongoing discussion about the “biergerlechen Déngscht” in Luxembourg raises questions about the ideal common good in a modern, democratic state. The author of the petition calls for a more flexible, ideology-free design of the service, which sets itself apart from strict bureaucracy and ensures better communication of official duties. The central suggestion is that such commitment should ideally take second place to voluntary engagement in a democratic context.

A look into the future

The introduction of a “biergerlechen Déngscht” could have far-reaching effects on society in Luxembourg. The comparison with the German community service plays an important role. While community service disappeared in Germany due to social and political changes, the question arises as to how a similar concept can be developed in Luxembourg to meet the needs of today.

Finally, it becomes clear that the renewal of the citizen service is not only a practical step to promote the community, but also represents an important opportunity to initiate a general discussion about voluntariness, responsibility and social cohesion. The petition in Luxembourg could therefore provide a significant impetus to open up new perspectives in the discussion about service to society.