LA FRANCE ET L’ARMEE FRANCAISE RESTENT MALHEUREUSEMENT IMPERMEABLES A TOUTE EVOLUTION DES DROITS CIVILS ET POLITIQUES DES MILITAIRES.
A L’OCCASION DE CET ANNIVERSAIRE, L’ADEFDROMIL PUBLIE LE COMMUNIQUE EN ANGLAIS, QUI EST LA LANGUE DE TRAVAIL DE L’ORGANISATION
40 Years of Solidarity among Military Associations in Europe:
EUROMIL celebrates its 40th Anniversary
On 13-14 September 2012, the European Organisation of Military Associations (EUROMIL) celebrates its 40th anniversary. EUROMIL, an umbrella organisation, is the main Europe-wide forum for cooperation among professional military associations on issues of common concern. Founded in 1972 by 8 associations from 5 West European countries, the organization grew steadily and is now composed of 43 associations from 28 countries. From the Russian Federation to Ireland, and from Finland to Cyprus, EUROMIL defends the social and professional interests of military personnel of all ranks in Europe and promotes the concept of “Citizen in Uniform”. Through its office in Brussels, EUROMIL facilitates the exchange of information, experiences and best practice among member associations. The organization, moreover, strives to secure and advance the human rights, fundamental freedoms and socio-professional interests of soldiers by monitoring and advocating at the European level. EUROMIL supports the inclusion of military personnel into EU social and labour legislation.
Among its achievements was the significant contribution of EUROMIL in creating the political circumstances in which some countries introduced legislation and regulations recognizing the legality of representative associations for military personnel. EUROMIL continues to support the right of association in all European countries and to form associations for military personnel to protect their social conditions. At the present time, the main challenge to tackle is the negative impact of the economic and financial crisis on defence budgets. The subsequent reductions in national defence spending and numerical strengths of armed forces have created new challenges for the national associations and EUROMIL.
Even before 1989 EUROMIL became conscious of the political changes and their impact on all citizens of Europe as the European Union evolved towards the political and economic integration of nations at an increasing pace. Nowadays, the organization maintains formal contacts with the EU Institutions, the Council of Europe (CoE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Additionally, EUROMIL established partnerships with the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention (PN), the European Security Round Table (ESRT), Dr. Manfred Wörner Circle (DMWC) and most recently the European Movement International (EMI).
This autumn, the 4th EUROMIL Congress will gather in Brussels on 26-27 October 2012. The Congress is the highest EUROMIL authority. It is composed of the delegates of the member associations in proportion to their membership and meets every four years. The Congress elects the President and the Board, approves the long-term policy objectives of the organization and has the sole authority to make amendments to its Charter. High-level speakers will participate in the official opening.
For further details, please visit the EUROMIL website: www.euromil.org