On 17. – 18. October 2025, the autumn session of Gaminger Initiative Europe (GIE) II 2025 took place in the Slovenian city of Maribor. The main theme of the meeting was: “Essential Changes in Defence Systems and the Role of Reservists and Reserve Forces in Modern Armed Forces.” The Slovak Republic was represented by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ing. Ladislav Balázs, Vice-President of the Slovak Association of Reservists (SZVvZ) for Foreign Affairs and the Slovak delegate to GIE.
International Participation and Key Topics
Delegations from Albania, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Switzerland and Slovenia took part in the session. The meeting was opened by Brigadier General Boštjan Baša, Commander of the Doctrine, Development, Education and Training Command “Kadetnica” in Maribor, who welcomed participants and presented the working programme.
The main expert presentations were delivered by Major General Miha Skerbič of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies and Brigadier General Vincenc Arko of the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF).
Key Insights from Major General Skerbič – A New Era of Defence and the Role of Reserve Forces
Major General Skerbič stressed that the world has entered an era of great-power competition and Fifth-Generation Warfare (5GW), where conflicts take place not only on traditional battlefields but also in the information, cognitive and technological domains. He emphasized that modern threats are hybrid in nature, using disinformation, cyberattacks, lawfare, and economic coercion.
Súčasné konflikty sa vedú o myslenie, vnímanie a rozhodovanie – o schopnosť ovplyvniť realitu skôr, než sa boje začnú.
A key message of his presentation was the need to transform reserve forces:
- Reserves must shift from being a “strategic insurance policy” to an active and immediately employable part of the defence system.
- A modern reserve must have access to relevant technologies, flexible training, and predictable readiness.
- Reservists are not only military manpower but also carriers of national unity, resilience and patriotism, the foundation of societal defence.
According to Skerbič, the goal of NATO member states must be proactive resilience, based on a whole-of-society approach and close integration of military, civilian and technological capacities.
Transformation of the Slovenian Armed Forces
Brigadier General Vincenc Arko presented an overview of the transformation of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) for the period 2020–2025. He stressed that Slovenia is building a small, professional and multipurpose military, optimized for peace-time tasks, but also preparing to expand wartime capabilities up to 40,000 personnel.
Key areas of transformation include:
- Modernization of equipment – 8×8 armoured vehicles, C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft, multi-role helicopters, and air defence systems.
- Introduction of a hybrid military model, combining professional soldiers, volunteers and contractual reservists.
- Increasing defense spending – Slovenia plans to exceed 2% of GDP for defense by 2030, ensuring long-term sustainability and preparedness.
Brigadier General Vincenc Arko emphasized that the transformation of the army is not a goal, but a necessary condition for preserving the sovereignty and security of the state.
Moderné výzvy sa už nemerajú v kilometroch, ale v sile systému, komunity a jednotlivca.
Croatia’s Preparation for Reintroducing Conscription
Significant attention was given to the presentation by Lt. col. Nevenka Kovač of the Croatian Reserve Officers Association, outlining legislative changes towards reintroducing mandatory basic military service in Croatia.
Croatia, which suspended conscription in 2008 and switched to a voluntary model, is preparing to reintroduce basic military training after a 17-year pause.
Key features of the reform include:
- Basic military training will last 8 weeks and will be mandatory for all men after the age of 18 (with conscription until age 30).
- Women will be able to join voluntarily.
- Three training camps with a combined capacity of approx. 4,000 conscripts per year.
- Monthly compensation of €1,100 net and full preservation of employment rights.
Vďaka dobre prispôsobenému základnému vojenskému výcviku vytvárame podmienky, aby mladé generácie získali zručnosti, ktoré celé generácie pred nimi nemali, a tým posilňujeme silu chorvátskej armády.
Alongside this change, Croatia is also adopting new strategic documents – the Defense Strategy and the Long-Term Development Plan of the Croatian Armed Forces 2025-2036, which aim to increase the country’s readiness and strengthen the active reserve system.
National Presentations and SZVvZ Participation
Delegations presented their national reserve and training systems. The Slovak Association of Reservists focused on “The Role of the National Defence Forces (NOS) and Cooperation with SZVvZ within Gaminger Initiative Europe.” The presentation was delivered by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ing. Ladislav Balázs, Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Slovak representative to GIE.
He introduced the newly established National Defence Forces (NOS) system, including approved legislative changes, recruitment approaches, and the importance of cooperation among European reservist associations. He emphasized the need for coordination in training, education and defence-sport activities, as well as the strategic value of the NOS project under the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.
Bilateral Agreement with Hungary
A key moment of the meeting was the signing of a bilateral cooperation agreement between the Slovak Association of Reservists (SZVvZ) and the Reserve Officers Association of Hungary (MATASZ). The agreement establishes a framework for joint educational and defence-sport activities, exchange of experience and coordination of participation in international events. This agreement follows a similar bilateral accord signed with the Italian reservist association UNUCI during the GIE session in Liptovský Mikuláš earlier this year.
Accompanying Program
The program included a tour of the Military Museum at Kadetnica, presenting all historical periods of Slovenian military history, and visits to historical sites in Maribor.
Conclusions and Future Outlook
The conclusions of the GIE II 2025 meeting will be circulated to member associations for review and will be submitted for approval at the next GIE I 2026 session in Italy, held during the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Italian UNUCI association.
The Slovak Association of Reservists continues to confirm its active role in European reservist structures and remains a key partner in promoting readiness, volunteerism and defence cooperation across Europe.
Prepared by: Ing. Rastislav Maršálek
Source: Report from the GIE II 2025 international session in Slovenia by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Ing. Ladislav Balázs