Priorities of the Council of the European Union for the next 18 months
In the first half of 2016, the Netherlands will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It will be the 12th time for the Dutch to hold the Presidency which is rotating between the member states every six months. The EU Presidency holder usually defines its individual …
NATO Invites Montenegro to Join the Alliance
On 2 December 2015, the Foreign Ministers of all 28 NATO member states invited Montenegro to begin accession talks to join the Alliance, fulfilling the task given by the Heads of State and Government at the Wales Summit in September 2014. The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, explained, at …
Meeting of EUROMIL and Finnish Military Trade Unions
On 25 November 2015, the President and the Vice-President of EUROMIL, namely Emmanuel Jacob and Flemming Vinther, visited the Finnish member association of EUROMIL (Päällystöliitto ry) in Helsinki. On the occasion of this visit, a roundtable discussion was organised with most of the other Finnish military trade unions. Beside the …
Best Greetings from Brussels
First of all, many thanks to those who send EUROMIL text messages and emails last weekend after the alarming situation in Belgium and in particular the Brussels area. Yes, we are all doing well and no, we are not living in some kind of war zone! However the security situation …
France invoked “mutual defence clause” for the first time in EU history
For the first time, defence ministers of the 28 member states of the European Union unanimously decided, at their meeting on 17 November 2015, to activate the “mutual defence clause” of the Lisbon Treaty. After the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015, France had invoked article 42.7 of …
Berlin Security Conference 2015
The 14th Congress on European Security and Defence, Berlin Security Conference, one was of the largest events on European Security and Defence, was held on 17 and 18 November 2015. The meeting, to which participated approximately 1000 persons from over 50 countries, including the Board of EUROMIL, was organised by …
“Tide of Tricorns” in Madrid
On Saturday, 14 November 2015, over 10.000 Civil Guard* employees occupied the streets of Madrid to defend their fundamental rights and freedoms. It was the largest demonstration ever organised by the “Unified Association of Civil Guards” (AUGC). The demonstration had been prohibited by the government but was finally authorised by …
Training session and roundtable discussion on the role of military associations and unions in the Balkan countries
EUROMIL organised a training session and roundtable discussion on the role of military associations and unions in the Balkan countries, with a particular focus on social dialogue, on 15 September 2015 in Skopje (FYROM). While the right to freedom of association and related rights are recognised for military personnel in …
7th ICOAF
The 7th International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces (ICOAF) on “the role of ombuds institutions for the armed forces in democratic societies” was held in Prague (Czech Republic) from 25 to 27 October 2015. The 7th ICOAF was co-hosted by the Czech main Inspector for Protection of …
Meeting on the Situation of Military Personnel in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain
On 15 October 2015, EUROMIL organised a meeting on the situation of military personnel in Southern Europe, more particularly in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, before its Presidium Meeting which took place on 16-17 October 2015 in Brussels. The President opened the meeting by welcoming participants and presenting international …