Severe wildfires in Greece – contribution of the Armed Forces
The situation in the Island of Rhodes has escalated beyond control, as tourists are now flooding the streets, seeking refuge in safe areas. The army has been actively engaged in assisting both tourists and fellow citizens, guiding them away from the fire’s path. To accommodate those who had to evacuate …
RACO Survey of Voluntarily Retired Officers
RACO conducted a survey on the topic of voluntarily retired officers 2020-2022. During the past years the world has faced multiple threats and challenges as a global pandemic, emergency evacuations from Afghanistan and Sudan, the return of the war in Europe, however, the Defence Forces remain neglected. The Irish Commission …
EUROMIL welcomes the European Commission’s Joint Communication on the Climate-Security Nexus
EUROMIL welcomes the European Commission’s Joint Communication to address the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on peace, security and defence. The Communication underlines the need for the Armed Forces to be better equipped to respond to severe climatic operational conditions, while also reducing their environmental footprint; provisions that …
15ICOAF meeting in Vienna
The 15th International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces (15ICOAF) was held in Vienna (Austria) on 18-20 June 2023. The meeting was co-hosted by the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) and the Austrian Parliamentary Commission for the Federal Armed Forces. EUROMIL’s President, Mr Emmanuel Jacob and …
Priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council
On 1st July, Spain takes over the Presidency of the EU Council. The six-month Spanish Presidency follows Sweden, and will be followed by Belgium from 1 January till 30 June 2024. The Spanish presidency will focus on 4 main priorities: Reindustrialise the EU and ensure its open strategic autonomy Advance …
European Armed Forces: State of Play 2023
On 8 June 2023, EUROMIL organised a two-panel event on the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Juozas OLEKAS entitled “European Armed Forces: State of Play 2023”. The first panel discussion focused on the implementation of the Strategic Compass and the creation of the Rapid Deployment Capacity. During the opening remarks, …
Gender Equality and Diversity in the Armed Forces
The Armed Forces has been considered for a long time as an only male profession, despite that women are joining more and more the military, stereotypes still prevail. Consequently, substantial change in the Armed Forces cannot be achieved. According to an opinion provided by the FEMM Committee of the European …
The EU should focus on building a common military culture
A common culture is defined as a group of people who share similar beliefs, values and behaviours, language or cultural heritage. EU Members states, despite their historical or linguistic differences have succeeded in becoming stronger when working together and be united in diversity. Building a common military culture though is …
The EU should not miss the chance of a timely implementation of the Strategic Compass
The Strategic Compass, adopted in March 2022, represents a first EU “white paper” on defence, providing guidelines for the EU and the Member States to adapt and respond to the new geopolitical environment. The document aims to make the EU and the Member States capable to respond to the challenges …
The interconnected relationship between Climate Change and the Military Sector
According to Newton’s Third Law “for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction”, a relation that can also be applicable in the way the Armed Forces interact with climate change and vice versa. Firstly, it is important to note that the military sector is huge greenhouse gas emitter …