Euromil News

A Step in the Right Direction for the Implementation of the Working Time Directive

On 21 February 2018 the Court of Justice of the European Union published a judgment (C-518/15) on the stand-by time of a worker who is obliged to respond to calls from the employer within a short time. The Court decided that this stand-by time must be regarded as working time. …

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Euromil News

Diversity and Inclusion in Security

On 18 February 2018, the President of EUROMIL opened the “Diversity and Inclusion in Security” event which was organised by the association Deutscher.Soldat and partly sponsored by the DBwV, in the margins of the Munich Security Conference in Munich. President Jacob explained that   EUROMIL continuously advocates human rights including equal …

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Euromil News

Trade Union Rights Recognized for Military Personnel by the European Committee of Social Rights

The European Social Charter should be interpreted as recognizing trade unions for military personnel. This is an important step towards the full recognition of the right to freedom of association for members of the armed forces. In September 2017, the European Committee on Social Rights (ECSR) decided on the complaint …

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Euromil News

Associations and Trade Unions of Gendarmerie Personnel in Europe Join Efforts

Following-up on their meeting on 13 July 2017, several associations and trade unions of gendarmerie personnel from three European countries met on 25 January 2018 in Amsterdam. On the invitation of the Dutch MARVER (Marechaussee Military Union), representatives of the Spanish AUGC (Asociación Unificada de Guardias Civiles), the Portuguese APG …

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Euromil News

Shrinking Space for Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders: A Problem Within the EU

On 18 January 2018, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) released a report on “Challenges facing civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU”. The shrinking space for civil society and human rights defenders in Europe endangers democracy in the European Union. As emphasised at regional …

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Euromil News

Social Dialogue in the Armed Forces of Montenegro

EUROMIL was informed on several occasions in the past year by its Montenegrin member association SOVCG about different problems regarding social dialogue and a worsened relationship between the Minister of Defence and SOVCG. On 17 January 2018, EUROMIL’s President Emmanuel Jacob met with the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Defence, …

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Euromil News

The Eagle Took Off

Ten years ago, on 13 December 2007, the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the European Union signed the Lisbon Treaty. They agreed amongst others “on the progressive framing of a common defence policy that might lead to common defence”. It needed however several years before …

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Euromil News

Priorities of the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency

Bulgaria will take over the Presidency of the EU Council from Estonia on 1 January 2018 until the end of June 2018. The Presidency rotates every 6 months, and will be held by Austria in the second half of 2018. Bulgaria, which has joined the EU in 2007, will hold …

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Euromil News

EUROMIL Visit at the Armed Forces Disabled Veterans Association

On 5 December 2017, EUROMIL’s President and Project Officer visited the Armed Forces Disabled Veterans Association (ADFA) in Lisbon, Portugal. The visit was arranged by EUROMIL’s Portuguese Board Member A. Lima Coelho, in the context of EUROMIL’s activity plan which foresees greater engagement around veterans (mental) health. ADFA is an …

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Euromil News

PESCO: Step by Step Towards a Final Council Decision!

Step by step Without any doubt, the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) will be a significant milestone: Not only because it will bind those member states that join PESCO to a certain number of commitments, but especially because it demonstrates the political will of a majority of member states to get …

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