European Parliament Supports Military Personnel in a Resolution on the European Defence Union
On 22 November 2016, Members of the European Parliament voted on a motion for a European Parliament Resolution on the European Defence Union, tabled by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Confronted to a new financial and security context, European armed forces are required to collaborate closer and military personnel to …
NATO Parliamentary Assembly: “Deterring To Defend: NATO After The Warsaw Summit”
From 18 to 21 November 2016 the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) gathered for its 62nd annual session in Istanbul, Turkey. The outgoing NATO PA President Hon. Michael R.Turner, expressed his support for Turkey in its battle against terrorism and struggles to host some three million Syrian refugees while recovering …
HKKF Congress: Focus on education and defence agreement
The Union of Enlisted Privates and Corporals in the Danish Army (HKKF) held a congress on 13-15 November. Flemming Vinther was re-elected to his fourth term as Chairman of the Union of Enlisted Privates and Corporals in the Danish Army at HKKF’s congress on 15 November. Flemming Vinther is also …
Belgian Military Trade Unions Demonstrate Against Raise Of Pension Age
In mid-October 2016, the Belgian government abolished the current pension system of military personnel without consultations. The new system foresees a raise of retirement age from currently 56 to 63 years by 2030, and eventually to 67 years. The impact for military personnel would be disastrous, especially because of blocked …
50 Years Of UN Covenants On Human Rights – Conference In Lisbon
The Portuguese Association of Democratic Jurists (APJD) together with the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) organised an international conference from 10 until 12 November 2016, at the University of Law of Lisbon, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights (International Covenant on Civil and …
Labour Rights Are Human Rights
On 20 October 2016, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, presented his last report to the United Nations General Assembly. In his report, the rapporteur emphasizes the deteriorating labour relations across the world but insists that labour rights are human …
Protest March Against Dismissal Of Temporary Military Personnel In Spain
Abstract – Two Spanish ex-professional soldiers started a protest march on 11 November 2016 to demonstrate against their dismissal from the armed forces after reaching the age of 45. All temporary military personnel in Spain (about 45% of the total military force) are dismissed from service when they turn 45. …
Internal Security Tasks for Military Forces: Has Europe a Role to Play?
On 8 November 2016, the Kangaroo Group organised a lunch debate on the topic of “Internal Security Tasks for Military Forces: Has Europe a Role to Play?”. The President of the Kangaroo Group, MEP Michael Gahler, opened the meeting by pointing out that the lines between internal and external security …
Portuguese Military Associations Denounce Bad Governance And Promise Not To Stand Still
Abstract – On 23 September 2016, three portuguese military associations (ANS, AOFA and AP), all of them full members of EUROMIL, convened a press conference to denounce bad governance and disrespect of the existing laws. The press conference was held in an hotel at the center of Lisbon. The three …
AUGC Demands Trade Union Rights for Guardia Civil in Spain
On 26 October 2016 the “Asociación Unificada de Guardias Civiles” (AUGC) held its 7th Congress in Madrid, Spain. EUROMIL’s President, Emmanuel Jacob, and a delegation of EUROMIL’s Spanish member association AUME participated in the event. The main topic discussed during the opening speeches was the demand for trade union rights …