This event is the first in the series “Overcoming Obstacles on the Way Towards a European Army” jointly organised by the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation for Freedom (FNF) & EUROMIL.

Every national military organisation has throughout history developed a unique culture. This is being expressed in terms of the citizen’s and employee’s rights of the individual soldier, the steepness of hierarchy, the focus of training, the exercise of leadership and the experience of combat, just to name a few. Whereas a national military culture is usually well adapted to the structure of its own society and the requirements of the armed forces missions, it might clash with other military cultures when operating internationally.

This aspect is especially crucial when talking about European defence cooperation where 27 diverging military cultures need to be accommodated. What are the actual and most striking differences among EU armed forces? How do they affect cooperation and military effectiveness on different levels? And how do they need to be taken into account when further integration is desired? Do individual exchange programmes, integrated units and common trainings support military diversity or do they bring about a slow process of alignment?

These are the key questions to be discussed at this event by the speakers:

Hubert de Vos, Major General (Ret), Belgian Armed Forces

Charlotte Isaksson, Senior Gender Advisor, EEAS

Antonio Lima Coelho, former President, Portuguese National Sergeants Associations (ANS)

Fleming D. Vinther, President, Trade Union of Enlisted Privates and Corporals of the Danish Army (HKKF)