The Advantages of Integration – A PDFORRA Perspective
Continued engagement by the Irish Defence Forces with our European partners received a boost following the recent announcement by the Irish Government that it was nominating Vice Admiral Mark Mellett for election to the Chair of the European Military Committee. The nomination of Vice Admiral Mellett came as no real …
63rd Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly: “Complex and multifaceted challenges!”
From 6 to 9 October 2017 the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) gathered for its Annual Session in Bucharest, Romania. Romania hosted the NATO PA’s Annual Session for the third time. The first Assembly session was held in October 1997, at a time when Romania was still a candidate for …
Work-Life Balance And Gender Equality
On 19 July 2017, EU social protection and labour ministers met in Tallinn to discuss issues of work-life balance and gender equality. The ministers exchanged views and best practices on the reconciliation of work and private life with a special focus on the role of men in care responsibilities, stating …
Priorities of the Estonian EU Council Presidency
Estonia will take over the Presidency of the EU Council from Malta on 1 July 2017 until the end of the year. The Presidency rotates every 6 months, and will be held by Bulgaria and Austria in 2018. Estonia, which has joined the EU in 2004, will hold the Presidency …
Time For Real Action
One cannot deny that it is becoming quite difficult to write something on the current situation that is valid for more than a few days or even hours. Especially the security and defence environment is changing rapidly. New scenarios for the future are discussed at an increased pace. However, two …
Constitutional, Legal And Institutional Implications of CSDP
On 16 March 2017, the European Parliament adopted a resolution entitled “Constitutional, legal and institutional implications of a Common Security and Defence Policy: possibilities offered by the Lisbon Treaty”. The report, which was drafted by the Constitutional and Foreign Affairs Committee, “notes that the reform and innovation that the Lisbon …
The Europe We Want: Just, Sustainable, Democratic And Inclusive
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, EUROMIL signed the statement “The Europe we want: Just, Sustainable, Democratic and Inclusive”. It was initiated by a group of six civil society organisation and trade unions, amongst which the European Movement International and the European Trade Union Confederation …
White Paper On The Future Of Europe
On 1 March 2017, the European Commission presented its White Paper on the Future of Europe. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said “As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, it is time for a united Europe of 27 to shape a vision for its …
Together For A Safer And Social Europe For All
Our last editorials focused on the external and internal security challenges the European Union is facing, the new geostrategic landscape it finds itself in, and the attempts to use the momentum and create a more coordinated approach to European defence. Security challenges are however not the only defiance Europe is …
Interpretative Communication on the EU Working Time Directive
The European Commission announced to publish an interpretative communication on the EU Working Time Directive (WTD) in March 2017, complementing the European Pillar of Social Rights. The topic of working time regulations is of major importance for EUROMIL and its member associations, which is why the organisation has followed the …