Union européenne

Chères amies, chers amis : les vœux de EU-Logos pour l’année 2018

Qui dit nouvelle année, dit rétrospective et prises de bonnes résolutions. Nous n’échappons pas à cette loi du genre. Année 2018, année décisive pour l’Europe, reconquérir ses citoyens, les mobiliser dans l’unité et l’efficacité. En 2018, confirmer un renouveau incontestable mais encore fragile, et aussi assumer ses responsabilités historiques. 2018, une année combative pour l’Union européenne, une année solidaire entre ses membres .L’année  2018, l’année du réveil et de la refondation ? année des conventions démocratiques et de leur succès ? C’est ici que les vœux prennent tout leur sens.

L’Europe a su faire preuve de résilience. Un redressement économique et financier réel mais limité et encore fragile pour certains. Les dangers politiques persistent eux aussi, ils  rôdent toujours. Le populisme et ses différents avatars ont  reçu un coup  mais pas un coup fatal. L’opinion publique est à l’arrêt  après avoir, pour une bonne partie d’entre elle, tourné le dos à un déni d’Europe manifestement excessif, et au bout du compte, peu convaincant. A l’arrêt,  elle  observe et s’interroge, elle est  prête cependant à faire confiance si se confirment les premiers succès.

Mais c’est une attente qui se  prolonge du fait de nouveaux phénomènes apparus entre- temps: le retour inattendu de la menace nucléaire, la confirmation des périls du cyber monde, le désarroi identitaire, la paupérisation des classes moyennes, l’aggravation, lourde de menaces, des inégalités  entre pays (1), mais aussi à l’intérieur d’un même pays : l’injustice sociale ne produirait-elle pas une double radicalisation, populiste et djihadiste ? A joutons les déstabilisations de tous ordres créées par des phénomènes migratoires non maitrisés .Que dire des développements de l’intelligence artificielle et des fantasmes qui lui sont liés ? Que dire aussi des futurs bouleversements liés aux  changements radicaux dans nos modes et comportements productifs ?

En face, les  errements de Donald Trump, et la Chine qui assume de plus en plus ouvertement son ambition de conquérir le leadership mondial que seule l’Europe semble en mesure de  lui contester ,en partie, surtout  s’il advenait que la Chine se présente, de façon trop assurée et permanente, comme le seul  héraut de la lutte contre le réchauffement climatique ou apparaisse comme le promoteur incontesté  d’une mondialisation qui serait alors  sans partage.

L‘Europe est comme à l’arrêt,  dans l’attente de confirmations, d’infléchissements ou d’effondrements imprévus. Mais l’avenir, on ne l’attend pas comme on attendrait un train, sur le quai d’une gare ; l’avenir, on le construit. Pour le construire, il n’est pas de meilleure occasion qu’un bon usage de ces conventions démocratiques initialement proposées par Emmanuel Macron et depuis rebaptisées « consultations citoyennes ».

Ces conventions présenteraient un premier intérêt : déborder les schémas proposés habituellement par les représentations traditionnelles (les partis, les syndicats, les bureaucraties….)  où s’inscrivent d’ordinaire les revendications. Une révolte donc   et, pour y être fidèles, consacrer nos énergies à l’organisation d’un vaste débat européen afin de poser les bons diagnostics de la situation actuelle et trouver les meilleures solutions. Nous donner les moyens de savoir ce que nous voulons. C’est-à-dire plus que des consultations, fussent-elles « citoyennes ».

Dans ces moments d’incertitudes à haut risques, nos démocraties européennes doivent savoir se remettre en cause, qu’il s’agisse d’éducation, de croissance économique durable et inclusive, du renforcement du lien social. Sur le plan international, face au renouveau des violences, au renouveau des idéologies et des régimes hostiles à la démocratie, l’Europe doit confirmer ses valeurs, assumer la charge de la défense de l’Etat de droit, y compris, le cas échéant, sur le plan militaire. Rappelons qu’en 2016, après cinq années consécutives de baisse des ventes d’armes, celles-ci viennent de repartir à la hausse et d’augmenter en 2016 de 4%, pour un montant  annuel de 217,2 milliards de dollars, les ventes de l’Europe occidentale restant stables.(Données du SIPRI).

Difficile d’imaginer des vœux plus engageants et plus ardents pour ces conventions démocratiques. Sur quoi doivent-elles faire porter prioritairement leurs efforts dans la conjoncture actuelle caractérisée par la persistance de l’extrême droite populiste et  sa banalisation ? Dans une Europe où tout repose sur le consensus et le souci de  l’apaisement, il est difficile de remettre en cause des pays au comportement peu démocratiques, mais élus démocratiquement. L’Europe est largement impuissante du fait de ses règles (l’unanimité par exemple) mais aussi de ses comportements. Pour toutes ces raisons, cette banalisation de l’extrême droite populiste fait malheureusement l’objet d’un consentement rampant, inavoué : ce consentement  est, qu’on le veuille ou non, accepté, toléré. Il faut reconnaître que ces droites populistes, ces gauches radicales sont polymorphes  avec une  forte plasticité redoutable, ce qui rend malaisée  la réplique. Pascal Ory (2) a bien décrit le phénomène : « Une culture politique de droite (…) dans un style de gauche (….) une idéologie de synthèse qui permet à la droite radicale de trouver le chemin des classes populaires en adoptant un style de gauche, avec, à droite comme à gauche, cette  stratégie,  intransigeante et volontiers paranoïaque, nourrissant une conception simple de l’univers, à la fois manichéenne et symétrique », eux et nous !

La capacité de l’UE à se remettre en cause est essentielle et cela constitue pour elle un défi d’un type nouveau. Elle va devoir se questionner, ce qui est compliqué quand il ne s’agit pas de tout casser, tout  faire éclater. Face à la persistance de l’extrême droite, il n’y a pas d’autre issue que d’inviter l’UE à se mettre en cause et proposer « du nouveau », à l’intégrer dans un contexte historique de longue durée , à l’opposé du « court-termisme » actuellement dominant où chacun semble ne vouloir retenir que ce qui  l’intéresse directement et immédiatement, dans une course éperdue à tous les opportunismes.

Pas d’autre issue que de confier aux conventions démocratiques cette tâche de la dernière chance. En outre, cette démarche est susceptible d’enlever aux citoyens le sentiment  qu’ils ne sont plus maîtres de leur destin, dépossédés de leur souveraineté. La voix des citoyens ne compterait pour rien. Or ce qui est proposé, c’est un processus délibératif d’un type inédit par son déroulement, sa méthode, son ampleur et sa durée, quasiment jusqu’aux élections du Parlement européen en 2019.

Concernant ces conventions démocratiques, nous y reviendrons régulièrement au cours des mois prochains et la première fois le 13 février 2018, où Eulogos organisera au Press Club de Bruxelles, une conférence intitulée « l’Union européenne à la reconquête de ses citoyens ». Ce sera l’occasion d’approfondir et de concrétiser ce nouveau concept de consultations citoyennes ou conventions démocratiques, en organisant leur mise en œuvre. Déclencher une dynamique nouvelle susceptible  de produire des « cahiers de doléances » qui, à l’image du précédent historique de 1789, viendraient alimenter  les « Etats généraux de l’Europe ».

Meilleurs vœux pour 2018. Que cette année soit une réussite !

Henri-Pierre Legros

• Rapport sur les inégalités mondiales 2018 http://wir2018.wid.world/ World Inequality Lab
• Pacal Ory «  Peuple souverain. De la Révolution populaire, à la radicalité populiste ». Ed. Gallimard

New talks between North Korea and South Korea seem to have been fruitful. These two countries, at war since 1950, have agreed in three points and issued a joint statement.

The negotiations lasted for over 10 hours and it was the first official meeting since December 2015. This was a delicate situation, not only between the two countries, but regarding the United States as well: South Korea did not want this meeting to create tensions with one of its greatest allies.

However, president Trump affirmed there would be no military action during the talks, and said that “hopefully it will lead to success for the world, not just for our country, but for the world.” He later also revealed that there have been talks, “a lot of good talks”, between the United States and North Korea. This seems like a positive outcome to what had been a very escalating year between the two countries. Especially since regarding nuclear weapons, North Korea will only discuss it with the United States and not with South Korea, nor China or Russia.

It was the South which had, for a long time, proposed to initiate talks that Pyongyang accepted on 5th January. One of the reasons for it might have been the Pyeongchang Olympics Games, the Winter Olympics taking place in South Korea. North Korean athletes had managed to qualify for them, but did not register in time; however, the International Olympic Committee kept the invitation open for a delegation. In 1988, when the last Olympics in South Korea took place (in Seoul), North Korea did not send a delegation.

During the talks, other than the fact that North Korea decided to send a national delegation to the Olympics, the three issues that were agreed to and announced in the statement were “agreeing to work to ease military tensions, hold military-to-military talks, and reopen the inter-Korean military hotline”. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said that “the re-establishment and strengthening of such channels is critical to lowering the risk of miscalculation or misunderstanding and to reduce tensions in the region”. Finally, Seoul also asked that during the Olympics, a reunion would take place between separated families.

All of these events made the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Frederica Mogherini, make a statement on the very important issue. She sees the talks as “encouraging signal, representing a positive step towards the improvement of inter-Korean relations”. Moreover, she hopes that additional meetings will be “a building block for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula”. Finally, she talked about the European Union’s role regarding the situation, by saying the Union will “continue to work towards this goal”, of mainly maintaining dialogue for the countries’ denuclearization.

The European Union has been very present in the Korean issue, wanting to be a kind of moderator and continually working for peaceful resolutions. With these new developments, it might finally and definitely have that role in the future.

Carolina Duarte de Jesus

For further information:

“EU welcomes outcome of inter-Korean talks as positive step for Koreas’ relations”, Yonhap News Agency, 2018, [consulted online on 11/01/2018]. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr

“Inter-Korean talks hailed as positive sign to ease tensions on peninsula”, Xinhua News, 2018, [consulted online on 11/01/2018]. http://www.xinhuanet.com

HOLLAND Steve and KIM Christine, “Trump, on the possibility of North Korea talks, says: ‘Who knows where it leads?’”, Reuters, 2018, [consulted online on 11/01/2018]. http://uk.reuters.com

LEE Taehoon and MCKIRDY Euan, “North Korea accepts South’s offer to meet for talks”, CNN, 2018, [consulted online on 11/01/2018]. http://edition.cnn.com

L’Union européenne et la paix, L’invention d’un modèle européen de gestion des conflits sous la direction de Anne Bazin, Charles Tenenbaum, Coll. Relations Internationales, SciencePo, Les Presses, 2017

Le livre intitulé „L’Union européenne et la paix. L’invention d’un modèle européen de gestion des conflits” est un travail collectif de dix auteurs sous la rédaction d’Anne Bazin et Charles Tetenbaum. Les deux co-auteurs sont des maitres de conférence en science politique a Sciences Po Lille et les chercheurs au Centre d’études et de recherches administratives, politiques et sociales (CERAPS, Université de Lille 2).
Anne Bazin dans sa recherche se concentre autour des questions liées a la politique étrangère de l’UE. Charles Tenenbaum s’interesse à la thématique des médiations internationales et résolution des conflits et de multilatéralisme.

Ce livre d’une manière scientifique et méthodique dessine une analyse approfondie et détaillée de la politique de la construction de la paix par l’UE après la guerre froide. Cet Union qui, en 2012 reçoit le prix Nobel de la Paix.

Il démontre quelles sont les logiques politiques et les changements dynamiques institutionnels qui accompagnent dans le temps la création et l’évolution d’un modèle européen de gestion des crises.

L’Union européenne apparait comme un acteur majeur de la paix et de la résolution des conflits au coté des autres organisations internationales comme Organisation des Nations Unis et Organisation de Sécurité et de Coopération en Europe.

La structure du livre, accompagnée par une introduction d’Anne Bazin et de Charles Tenenbaum se compose de deux partis et se compose de 9 chapitres. Dans la première partie nous trouvons les propos théorique, concernant la création et le fonctionnement des politiques de la gestion des crises de l’UE. La deuxième partie décrit les exemples concrets d’implémentation des différents instruments et de stratégies de la politique étrangère et de sécurité: le Proche Orient, la Somalie et le Caucase afin de mieux démontrer les initiatives de la paix de l’UE dans le terrain.

Chaque chapitre est écrit par un autre chercheur venant des différents universités, pas seulement européens (Science Po Lille, Science Po Grenoble, Cardiff University, Université Hebraique de Jerusalem, College d’Europe de Bruges, Université d’Amsterdam).

Dans l’introduction les auteurs souhaitent souligner l’importance de comprendre l’évolution institutionnelle et politique de la gestion des crises made in Europe. Le premier chapitre démontre l’évolution institutionnelle des mécanismes européens dans une perspective historique et sociologique. Dans le deuxième chapitre les auteurs présentent les acteurs majeurs et les pratiques d’implantation de l paix par les institutions de l’UE. Dans le troisième chapitre l’auteur décrit les actions menées par l’Union a cote des autres institutions internationales qui s’activent dans le domaine des missions pacifiques et de gestion de crise. Dans le quatrième chapitre nous avons une analyse de la manière de laquelle sont analysées les programmes de démocratisation dans la stratégique globale de la politique de l’Union notamment la gestion de crise. Chapitre cinq présente une chronologie très détaillée de la création de la politique extérieure de l’UE. Il se divise en quatre parties:
- l'évolution normative,
- la mise en place de la politique de gestion de crises de l’UE,
- le niveau institutionnel,
- les exemples des missions de paix menées par l’Union (Croatie, Bosnie, Kosovo; Afghanistan, Libye; Tchétchénie, Georgie, Ukraine).
Le chapitre six présente l’évolution de médiation comme un des instruments pacifique de la gestion de crise par l’UE. Les trois derniers chapitres décrivent les exemples exacts de l’engagement de lUE dans la construction et du maintien de la paix dans le monde : le conflit Israélo-Palestinien, la Somalie et le Caucase.

Cet ouvrage présente des normes, des pratiques ainsi que des acteurs de l’UE selon une démarche de sociologie des relations internationales:
- les enquêtes sociologiques approfondies,
- les entretiens avec des praticiens, des experts et des diplomates qui participent dans ce processus directement.
Les auteurs soulignent que l’UE développe depuis la fin de la guerre froide les divers instruments de sa politique étrangère:
◦ la gestion des crises,
◦ la prévention,
◦ la médiation,
◦ la réconciliation,
◦ la démocratisation,
◦ des droits de l’homme.
En effet, elle souhaite avoir un rôle majeur dans la pacification des zones de conflit dans le monde.

Les auteurs souhaitent montrer comment grâce aux divers outils de la sociologie et de la science politique, la politique étrangère de l’UE et ses actions extérieurs évoluent. Ils mettent l’accent sur les stratégies alternatives de résolution des conflits développés par l’UE au cours des années.

Il convient de souligner que l’UE et sa politique étrangère sont montrées dans une optique multilatérale, internationale, en comparaison aux autres organisations intergouvernementales, universelles ou régionales qui possèdent déjà depuis plus longtemps les instruments de gestion des crises. En effet, toutes ses organisations participent dans l’organisation du monde.

L’histoire de la politique extérieure de l’UE est animé par l’objectif de mettre les Européens a contribution dans la résolution des conflits. En effet, selon les auteurs, l’UE souhaite devenir conflict manager global.

De la lecture de ce lire découle deux conclusions :
1. la diplomatie européenne sur le niveau régional et mondial reste historiquement liée à la pacification des conflits grâce aux plusieurs modèles de médiations : le soutien financier aux ONG, des expertises externes, le soutien des partenaires,
2. la faiblesse, l’incohérence des moyens entretenus et le manque d’un soutien politique mènent à une baisse d’influence progressive à l’échelle mondiale et à une baisse de la capacité d’intervention de l’UE.
D’ou besoin d’évolution des instruments, de mécanismes et d’institutions spécialisés afin de redéfinir la nouvelle politique de la paix de l’Union.

Il convient de souligner les valeurs scientifiques et même didactiques de cet oeuvre. Malgré son style très technique, qui semble momentanément rude, cette lecture mène à une réflection et un jugement critique envers la politique de l’UE.

*
Chronologie - politique de la paix de l’UE:

NORMES-THEORIE
1. Maastricht - chapitre 5- PESC
1. résolution de conflit
2. missions de Petersberg (UEO) : maintien de la paix, missions humanitaires, gestion de crise, rétablissement de la paix
2. Amsterdam - maintien de la paix, missions de forces de combat
3. St.Malo 1998 - capacités militaires (parallèlement - institutionnalisation de la politique européenne de sécurité et de défense
4. Göteborg 2001 - prévention des conflits = un des principaux objectifs des relations extérieurs de l’UE
5. Stratégie européenne de secouriste - équilibre civili-militaire dans la gestion des crises

PRATIQUE
• 34 missions lances - dans le cadre de la politique européenne de sécurité et de défense entre 2003-2015 (16 achevés, 18 en cours début 2015)
• deux tiers de ces missions ont un caractère civile (coopération police/justice, renforcement de l’Etat de droit)
• taille modeste - qqn dizaines/centaines d’agent.

INSTITUTIONS
• Parlement eu. - groupes de médiation - évolution vers une prévention de conflit et une médiation
• Création de l’Institut européen de la paix (IEP) à l’initiative de la Suède et de la Finlande
▪ médiation européenne de la paix européenne
▪ diplomatie informelle
▪ politisation des enjeux lies a la médiation des conflits (différents intérêts des pays membres de l’UE)

ETUDES DE CAS
Processus Israélo-Palestinien
- jeux d’intérêts des pays membres de l’UE; production normative croissante de l’UE et pas de stratégie politique clairement définie ; par conséquent - une baisse d’influence progressive de l’UE, incohérence entre les normes promues et la capacité d’intervention de l’UE; financement de l’UE majeur (poids financier)

écrit par dr Kinga Torbicka, chercheuse associée de l`Institut Europa Varietas

Bulgaria started its round as the holder of the EU Council presidency on the 1st January 2018, after Estonia concluded its turn by the end of the year 2017. It is the first time the country assumes this position since its entry in the European Union back in 2007. Although Bulgaria has been regarded as the poorest country in the EU – and is said to be the most corrupted one – it will seek to continue on the work begun by its predecessor, most notably by developing the digital single market project even further.

Indeed, one of its main priorities will be to promote competitiveness by using all the innovative and digital means which will be part of the European digital single market. In its work programme published a few days ago, the Bulgarian representatives to the EU Council indicated that they would focus on “accelerating the process of completing a competitive and fair digital Single Market; supporting connectivity within the EU; updating the regulatory framework for telecommunications; enhancing the credibility and security of personal data in the digital space and the development of a European data-based economy.”

This point is only one part of a four-priorities programme, which encompasses different areas, namelyeconomic and social cohesion”, “stability and security of Europe”, “European prospects and connectivity of the Western Balkans” and finally “digital economy and skills for the future”. The overall goal of the Bulgarian presidency will therefore be to make the European Union “stronger, more united and more democratic”, as Bulgaria’s representatives stated in the 40-pages long work programme.

Bulgaria will surely face a lot of challenges along the way, before Austria eventually takes over the EU Council presidency by the 1st July 2018, but it will strive to achieve all the goals that have been set up by the three countries – Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria – as they are part of a trio presidency. Moreover, according to the Council of the EU, “working as a trio presidency also means that the three member states have the opportunity to learn about each other and to work together closely, thus strengthening the EU as a whole.”

Raphaël Moncada

For further information:

Bulgarian Presidency: https://eu2018bg.bg/en/programme

EU2017: https://www.eu2017.ee/trio-programme

Euronews: http://www.euronews.com/2017/12/31/bulgaria-takes-up-eu-presidency

European Parliament: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/614605/EPRS_BRI(2017)614605_EN.pdf

The Weinstein case that shed the light on violence and sexual abuses in the world of cinema and the cases of abuse in the European Parliament, have shifted the attention on one of the dramas of contemporary society, one of the great battles for civilization the Western World has been fighting in the last decades. Over the years, the European Parliament has dealt with the issue on several occasions and to talk about this I met with Elly Schlein, an Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP), member of the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group and the Italian party Possibile. During her tenure, she fought for the reform of the Dublin treaty and launched, together with other colleagues, the #MeTooEU campaign against gender-based violence, following the scandals that have hit the European institutions in recent months. These two battles are the result of her presence in the LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) and in the FEMM (Women’s rights and gender equality) committee. During this interview we talked all-round about the issues that are reasons for the violence and culture of gender inequality. The answers and ideas that Elly Schlein gave me will always be quoted.

Media attention on gender violence

In the first days of October, a succession of actresses and women linked to Hollywood have reported harassment and sexual violence by Harvey Weinstein, a famous film producer and a very influential man in Hollywood. Within a month, more than 90 women declared being victims of harassment by the producer and 14 accused him of rape. These accusations have initiated numerous investigations. On the Internet, the social campaign #MeToo was launched and following that Jeanne Ponte, assistant to a French MEP in the European Parliament, publicly reported cases of harassment in the institutions on her and her colleagues. We asked MEP Elly Schlein if media attention was the reason or the result of cases such as those mentioned:

“Surely the Weinstein case has helped turn the spotlight on what is a structural and endemic problem of our society. This problem exists, regardless of how much attention medias are paying to it, and sometimes cyclical facts emerge concerning people who are particularly well-known as it happened in the Weinstein case. Unfortunately, the data tells us that one in three women was victim of sexual or physical harassment since youth. So, it is a problem that exists in all societies and in all work environments, not only in the film industry, but we have dealt with it in this Parliament because in the European institutions unfortunately there are cases of sexual abuse and harassment. And that is why, together with many other colleagues, we asked with determination that legislations should be enforced and prevention should be adopted immediately. Because these two things have to be carried on together, there is certainly a profound cultural work to do, but in parallel there is a strengthening of the legal framework that does not only involve sanctions, which have to be hard and effective, but which also entails the creation of a climate of zero tolerance that allows and facilitates complaints. Because precisely because of the cases we have dealt with here in the European Parliament, we realized that the already existing channels to denounce facts of this type are obviously not yet built in an effective way, they are not yet reliable enough for the people that preferred in some cases to not report. Or just to report only after the Weinstein case, on the wave of this beautiful hashtag called #MeToo.”

#MeToo and the TIME’s cover as Person of the Year

The #MeToo social campaign was launched by the actress Alyssa Milano a few days after the Weinstein scandal broke out. Her call was heard by thousands of women who shared their experiences of social harassment and abuse by demonstrating how widespread the phenomenon is. Just to her and to the other « Silence Breakers« , TIME magazine dedicated the annual cover award of the Person of the Year, identifying the movement of women who joined the hashtag #MeToo as a collective fight; born, however, as an act of individual courage. That was what Elly Schlein thought about this:

“Yes, let’s say that this is interesting, because one thing is true: despite being a structural and endemic problem of our societies, where much more awareness and prevention and contrast of violence must be made; it is also true that after the Weinstein case, these very positive campaigns that were born have created a climate in which women felt much freer to report these facts and this created a positive circuit. It is a situation in which one supports one another in the act of denunciation, which is never easy. We have also seen that in the Italian case, which unfortunately presented some profiles a bit special compared to those of other countries, demonstrating the great backwardness of our country on the issue of gender equality. Great backwardness also from the cultural point of view, in Italy we have seen episodes of victim-blaming. Comments like « you’ve looked for it », « why did she denounce so late? » and « first you benefit and then… ». This is all an indecent blame for the victim who must instead be able to report through reliable channels, to be followed by a team of medical, psychological and legal advisors. In short, the complaint deserves to be seriously considered; then the complaint will give rise to a judicial procedure and we will see if this will lead to convictions for those responsible. But here the important thing is that there is a climate in which people feel free and protected in the complaint and have channels through which the complaints are taken seriously. This is not only necessary in the European institutions, as we have been care to ask President Tajani with a petition in the website Change.org, which has already collected about 24,000 signatures, but is essential in all workplaces. Because in all workplaces, unfortunately, these things happen: there are abuses, there is harassment, there are episodes of stalking or otherwise of gender-based violence. It is necessary that in all workplaces there is an awareness and adequate tools for prevention and counter action”

The legislative proposals of the European Parliament

In 2017, in three different moments the European institutions have strongly pushed for greater legal protection of women victims of abuse and violence: with the accession to the Istanbul Convention and with the two resolutions of the European Parliament on the 12th September and 26th October. The adhesion to the Istanbul Convention is a great boost the European Union gives to the many Member States that have not ratified it yet. It is a way of putting back at the center an argument that some people had set aside. While with regard to the two Resolutions, the European Parliament can act as an open-door to many working environments on issues of prevention and combating gender-based violence.

“We hope that at least the Parliament can give a boost to all European institutions in this direction. What has already been said in the Resolution we approved on September 12, which strongly condemns all forms of violence against women and welcomed the European Union’s accession to the Istanbul Convention on 13th June 2017. It is good to remember that the Convention has not yet been ratified by all EU Member States. So that the European Union has also been a symbolic act, that wants to push with absolute haste and urgency the Member States to join, implement and ratify the Convention of Istanbul. Obviously, it is not the only Resolution, there have been so many from the Parliament on this issue. The last one was approved on the 26th October, when we voted for a resolution on the fight against violence and sexual abuse in the European Union. This Resolution condemns any form of sexual violence and physical or psychological harassment and also deplores the fact that these acts are tolerated too easily. It also condemns the cases of sexual harassment in the EU institutions recently revealed by the media. This Resolution insists on what I said earlier, namely that we need a more effective legal framework, that we need to take further measures to strengthen the fight against this phenomenon and that we need more prevention. We also had a debate in the plenary session last October, before the approval of this Resolution, which showed that some of the internal procedures are not yet adequate and it is still too difficult to report cases of harassment or we are afraid that this will lead to consequences and to empowering those guilty of these acts. All of this began with the adherence to a letter, which was the initiative of some colleagues and was addressed to President Tajani, in light of what was the Weinstein case and the thousands of women who found the strength to denounce the experiences of abuse sexual in work spaces and public places. We first asked that there was an external audit, for the cases of sexual abuse in the European Parliament, we asked that there was a special commission dedicated to this, which also included legal counselors, medical and psychological staff. All this to investigate these cases reported, obviously maintaining the absolute confidentiality and the anonymity of complaints to protect victims. It was also asked that measures were adopted that could ensure a climate of zero tolerance at all levels in the European institutions. Finally, it was necessary to ask the institutions to fully support the victims during these procedures and to also carry forward the formal complaint to the competent judicial authorities.”

Elly Schlein has also launched an online petition on the well-known « change.org » website, along with MEPs Ernest Urtasun, Linnea Engstrom and Terry Reintke.

“I dealt with the Italian part of this complaint that we called « Stop sexual abuse in the European institutions » with the significant hashtag #MeTooEU, that is the European part of the #MeToo campaign. And just as I said to you, we ask loudly:

• The creation of this atmosphere of zero tolerance, to punish those responsible and to finally have a larger and full application of penalties and sanctions available.
• The creation of a central office to report abuses and harassment for all EU institutions, hence not just the Parliament, as we said we would also like to set an example for other institutions and maybe even for other workplaces around Europe.
• To ensure the access of a commission on sexual abuse independent of the European Parliament, which does not reproduce the structures of power and therefore that it has no members within it, this is the idea of independence.
• The victims must have the status of the so-called Whistleblowers, on whose field this Parliament strongly calls for a European directive setting minimum standards for those who report acts of malfeasance, corruption, evasion and tax avoidance.
• The victims must also have the support of legal, medical and psychological consultants.
• Finally, we also ask that there is a mandatory training on sexual harassment and bullying, which should be done for all those working in these institutions: Members of Parliament, staff and all others. Also because it is necessary a sensitization to the existing patriarchal structures that are those that create that cultural disaster we see. So it is a problem that is also to be addressed from the cultural point of view.”

The cultural problem of gender violence

Coming to discuss the cultural issue behind gender-based violence, the question that arises is how to combat the cultural problem, in addition to the legal one, behind gender-based violence. Especially if there is a European level in which to fight the culture of gender-based violence or if this problem has to be fought at other levels. The MEP Elly Schlein gave us a long and complex vision on the issue:

“The FEMM committee has always been committed to supporting the fight against gender-based violence. So certainly, there is a European level on which to work in a cultural way on the issue of attracting interest, training and information, and the denunciation of what is sexism, sexist language, stereotypes. On these issues, the European Parliament is very active and there is already support from the European Union. At the national level, there is a long way to go, I think the crucial question is to start early and start from schools. This is why we support the need to educate about differences within schools. A possibility that too often is not explored by the educational plans of our schools, even if there are good practices in circulation. I have recently met the teachers of the schools of Bologna, for example of the Rodari school in the province, and we have dealt with this delicate theme together: it is not an easy operation! We have made an initiative by tackling with experts on this issue what are the challenges for proper training in schools to raise awareness among young people about these important issues. It is from there that the deconstruction of these patriarchal structures that keep our country plastered, more than others, begins. We need to do serious work of support, which is lacking at the national level, to the anti-violence centers that have a long experience and great skills to support the victims. And we need to make an accurate operation on who has been responsible for acts like these, people who are re-socialized and re-educated by fighting these stereotypes and this completely wrong idea of the woman’s body as if it were an object, or as if it were a men’s possession. So you have to act at all levels: local, national and European. This can be done with many tools to support these policies, like find funds available to support courses and training. At the national level a much more serious investment is needed: constant government cuts to funds available for the anti-violence centers are indecent.”

Anti-violence centers and funding for facilities

There is a problem of public funding for a whole series of structures providing protection and support for women victims of violence, facing a reality which is that institutions receive less and less public funding. This is the case for example of the International Women’s Home in Rome, active since the ‘80s and recognized for its role of public utility by the City of Rome since 1992. Today it risks closing for the demands of the municipality that claims to be paid a rent for the structures that host it. So my question is: the problem is political rather than economic? And the second is: the interest about gender problem is a minority in society?

“First of all, I want to express solidarity and support to the International Women’s Home, which should not be closed. It would be very serious to close it because what it does is precious. Whoever is in the government of all institutions, municipality, regions and central State, must absolutely and cannot afford to have this approach in 2017. For decades, there has been special attention given to the issue of gender equality in the European law, you cannot afford it that the institutions accept the lack of this attention. I take it to the same extent with the government or with a mayor who makes the mistake of removing funds for this type of policy. I do not believe that it is a minority, I believe that society is also ahead the political class on many things, surely there is a widespread cultural problem and in Italy we are behind other countries. But today there is an awareness of these issues much greater than a few years ago, the battle still needs to make many strides forward from stereotypes spread by the media, television and newspapers. How many times do we attack the newspapers as they face the murder of a woman, overturning the question and going almost to justify why he got out of his mind because he loved her and could not live without her? No, he is a murderer and must be treated as such and also the way and the language we use to talk about gender violence makes all the difference in the world on the cultural battle. So you need to have the multi-level high guard, on the language and the stereotypes that television broadcasts: both information programs and films, television series and all programs. There is a need to raise the guard on the language when we talk about these facts in the newspapers, to watch out for the horrendous and sexist commercials that unfortunately still haunt the advertising space of our country. A total contrast of these phenomena and of all this patriarchal culture that sees in the woman’s body an object to be appropriated, which means the cultural battle is not only against this but is connected to the sexist and patriarchal paradigm of our societies. That has to do with the fact that women are absolutely underrepresented in decision-making roles, not only in politics, where in some Regional Councils they are almost absent in a shameful way. Shameful not for them but precisely for the electoral systems and for a political culture that in all the parties does not see the figures of women emerge sufficiently. But we also see it in the boards of companies, women who at the European level are in the boards of companies listed on the stock exchange are 4.7%. We are not 4.7% of society, just as in 2017 it is unacceptable that there is still a wage inequality between men and women for the same job by 15% at European level, this is medieval and is not acceptable in any way. Not to mention the pension gap at European level that is even higher, because women in Europe on average gain 39% less than retired men. Then there is a wide range of battles to be done, we push on the national level for a law on gender equality on the model of the French, that has a comprehensive approach and that touches all these various issues, because the fields in which women are discriminated against today are still very large. As I said, women are discriminated not only in the family, with family work, or when they are victims of violence, but also in the workplace, in the political decision-making, in the areas of responsibility and in the organizational charts of large companies. Here on this there is a lot to do, as Possibile we have proposed that companies that do not respect wage equality could not participate in public tenders; this problem requires very strong sanctions from this point of view.”

Italy has a long way to go

However, compared to other member countries of the European Union it seems that Italy is still behind, especially in terms of the cultural battle and that of information. What is the difference between Italy and other European countries?

“We are a country that is not yet secular enough, by the Constitution and the legislation we should be a secular country, but we have a heavy influence of a certain culture that partly derives from religion, but it is not only that. We also have other models that overlap and see the woman strongly discriminated and as an object of possession. Let’s think, for example, about the organized crime mafia mentality: that is a very patriarchal mentality, so there are many reasons. And then politics in Italy has not yet decided to diverge from this and has not decided to make a strong and direct investment towards gender equality that passes from all these issues. The battles are wage equality, the right representation in decision-making places, the battle not to relegate women to a living instrument of welfare, which in recent years have even made up for institutional shortcomings. In the years of welfare cuts, it is women who have made up for more work at home and cared for the elderly and children. For example, we do not have enough childcare facilities and the right support in the workplace for women who want to carry on with their family and their parenting responsibilities. It takes an appropriate maternal leave and even an appropriate paternal leave; on this there was an attempt for a European directive that then basically ran aground. It takes financial and cultural support to the anti-violence centers, it takes institutions that promote this culture and this also depends on the parties that have to take charge and have a huge responsibility in this regard. I’m lucky because I’m part of a feminist party and that has a secretary, Pippo Civati, that as a man has always been very attentive to the « male » question, as we call it. And so he made us do a series of proposals for which we have also been teased, here is another difference between Italy and the others. It is indicative what happened when we proposed the « Tampon Tax« : a measure of civilization because the basic products of female hygiene cannot be taxed as luxury products, they are essential goods. We were asking for a lowering of the VAT in this sense and we were teased by everyone and everything, even the comedian Luciana Littizzetto who had never deigned to pay attention to this in the follow-up TV program Che Tempo Che Fa. Only after a while did they begin to realize that it was a proposal that the United Kingdom was pursuing, not the feminist groups but the United Kingdom government. For example, Obama has dealt with gender issues also in these specific terms; instead in Italy they are still the subject of derision. So politics are responsible for backwardness as is the interference of a certain Catholic culture; “certain” because instead there are many Catholics who are fully aware of the need to make huge strides on gender equality. There are many tools to combat these phenomena and to promote a political culture and we will try to put them at the center of the debate in view of the upcoming elections.”

This is the result of the interview with the MEP Elly Schlein, wishing us a future where scandals such as Weinstein and harassment within the European institutions will be defeated by the battles for a growing cultural awareness and legal force of our European society.

Tancredi Marini 

For further information:

• Istanbul convention: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/it/press/press-releases/2017/05/11/vioklence-against-women/
• Resolution 12 September 2017: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P8-TA-2017-0329+0+DOC+XML+V0//IT
• Resolution 26 October 2017: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P8-TA-2017-0417+0+DOC+XML+V0//IT
• TIME, Person of the Year 2017, Silence breakers: http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/?xid=homepage
• Elly Schlein and other Parliamentarians petition: https://www.change.org/p/antonio-tajani-fermiamo-gli-abusi-sessuali-nelle-istituzioni-europee-metooeu?utm_source=embedded_petition_view
• European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights: http://fra.europa.eu/en/press-release/2017/new-start-end-inequalities-still-threaten-women-everywhere
• The #MeToo campaign: http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2017/10/17/news/metoo_la_campagna_che_squarcia_il_velo_sulle_molestie-178517375/
• Casa Internazionale delle Donne: http://www.casainternazionaledelledonne.org/index.php/it/home
• Molestie sessuali nell’Europarlamento: http://espresso.repubblica.it/palazzo/2017/10/30/news/molestie-sessuali-anche-nell-europarlamento-1.313109

This Wednesday (21st of December), the European Commission launched the article 7 procedure against Poland. The article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty provides a mechanism to safeguard fundamental EU values when they are considered under threat. This procedure is qualified as a “nuclear option”. It is the first time this procedure is triggered by European institutions.

In fact, the European Commission (EC) – announced by its Vice-President Frans Timmermans – launched the first step of the procedure due to “clear risk of serious breach of the rule of law”. By this expression, the EC conducted disciplinary action against the Polish reform of its judicial system, who is “now under the political control of the ruling majority” according to the EC press release.

In this context, several European voices was heard. Phillippe Lamberts (president of the Green/AFA’s group) said “we are glad that the European Commission finally followed our repeated calls”. Gianni Pittella – president of the S&D group – declared “we fully support the decision of the European Commission”. The president of the EPP group – Sergei Stanishev –  avowed that “the Polish government should stop portraying itself as a victim, the true victim here is Polish democracy”. Moreover, Iverna McGowan – director of Amnesty International European’s Institutions Office – admitted “the Polish government is finally seeing the consequences of their reckless drive to destroy freedoms in the country”.

The response of the Polish government claims that the EC procedure was “essentially political, not legal” and declares the will of the Polish administration “to continue to reform our justice system”. In both statement, European institutions and Polish government announced their wish to dialog and find solutions in matter of divergent visions of state of law.

The article 7 was triggered by one third of the Member States; and the first step is to give the opportunity for Poland to be in agreement with the EU fundamental rights. Before the official suspension of Poland’s voting rights, there are two more steps unavoidable and involving the three mains European institutions (Council, Commission and Parliament).

After Brexit, Poland is now threatening to weaken the unity of the European Union.

Jean-Hugue Baraër

For further information:

European Commission. Rule of Law: European Commission acts to defend judicial independence in Poland. Press release. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-5367_en.htm

Euractiv. Brussels triggers unprecedented action against Poland. https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/brussels-triggers-unprecedented-action-against-poland/

Politico EU. Brussels puts Warsaw on path to sanctions over rule of law. https://www.politico.eu/article/frans-timmermans-brussels-puts-warsaw-on-path-to-sanctions-over-rule-of-law/

Politico EU. Poland won’t back down. https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-rule-of-law-wont-back-down-from-brussels-eu/

The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus takes control of the CSeries medium-haul aircraft program of Canadian Bombardier. By this operation Airbus puts 50.01% of the flagship program of the family business in Quebec. A "win-win" operation Airbus shares took 4% on the Paris Stock Exchange.

The company that built the medium-haul jet was created in 2016 by Bombardier and the Government of Quebec to save the bankruptcy program. Ultimately, Airbus will take the majority stake in this company alongside family shareholders (31%) and Quebec authorities (19%). Indeed, under pressure from Boeing, the Trump administration, on the pretext of this subsidy, had overwhelmed the CSeries with an exceptional tax of 300%. A sort of death sentence for a program that has accumulated only 350 orders, but $ 450 million in losses in 2016. Yet the Quebec builder had spared no effort to try to sell his new plane. According to some analysts, the discounts could reach 75% for a device billed about $ 70 million at the list price.

Indeed, this program of medium-haul aircraft perfectly complements the range of Airbus. The CSeries is a 100 to 150-seat airplane of the latest generation, launched in 2013. It is located at the very beginning of the range of Airbus single-aisle aircraft, with 150 to 240 seats. It replaces an aging A319. Once integrated into the industrial aircraft of the European aircraft manufacturer, the CSeries should prove its full commercial potential.

Aircraft are expected to require more than 6,000 aircraft with 100 to 150 seats within 20 years. More importantly, the entry of the CSeries into the bosom of Airbus reinforces the dominance of the European aircraft manufacturer in the medium-haul segment. Airbus already holds more than 60% of a market estimated at more than 25,000 aircraft by 2037.

Freedom of expression is the right of every person to think as he wishes and to be able to express his opinions by any means he deems appropriate in the fields of politics, philosophy, religion, morals. Freedom of expression in a democratic country of the European Union is considered illegal. In a EU that never hesitates to give lessons in human rights and democracy, for example to African or Balkans countries.

According to Barcelona, the YES has won with 90% of the votes. Some 2.26 million people voted and 2.02 million voted in favor of independence. These figures represent a participation of almost 42.3%, Catalonia counting 5.34 million voters.

The referendum is quite illegal under the Spanish Constitution and the interpretation given to it by the Spanish Constitutional Court. ("It is not within the competence of the autonomies to hold consultations ... which have an impact on the fundamental issues resolved by the constitutional process.") But it is legal according to the Catalan law.

Air show with an A350 XWB, an A400M, an Eurofighter Typhoon and an H160 helicopter.

Suite à une conférence qui s’est tenue à Varsovie le 23 mars 2017 intitulée „Intégration européenne - nouvelle ouverture” organisée par l’Institut des Affaires Internationales de la Pologne (PISM) et la Chancellerie de Premier Ministre de la Pologne (Kancelaria Prezesa Rady Ministrów) l’auteur souhaite présenter la voix de la Pologne dans la discussion autour de l’Europe.

La conférence était organisée à l’occasion de célébrer la soixante anniversaire de la signature des Traités de Rome.
Selon Beata Szydło, la Première ministre polonaise l’Europe d’aujourd’hui se trouve devant les quatre questions majeurs:
1. l’avenir de l’Europe est mise en question;
2. les crises en UE - la crise en zone euro et le Brexit ;
3. la crise migratoire;
4. le terrorisme (les nombreux attaques terroristes dans les capitales européennes).

Face à ces problèmes qui mettent en doute l’idée de l’intégration européenne celle de Jean Monnet et de Robert Schuman il faut souligner deux règles qui sont des fondements de l’UE: l’unité et la solidarité.
Par ailleurs, le gouvernement polonais se prononce contre „une Europe à multiples vitesses” on y voyant une force qui désintègre l’Europe de l’intérieur. La Pologne est pour plus de compétences attribuées aux parlementaires nationaux, pour une „solidarité élastique” et pour „une Union des Nations”.
„D’ores et déjà la Pologne constitue une partie intégrale de l’Union européenne” constate Beata Szydło.

Comment les dirigeants polonais voient la sortie de l’Union européenne de la crise actuelle?

Le 1er mars 2017 la Commission européenne publie un Livre Blanc qui désigne le besoin des réformes.
Les dangers les plus importants qui touchent actuellement la coopération européenne sont:
- les migrations;
- le marché commun est en crise;
- les dangers extérieurs.
Cette besoin de changements\réformes devrait venir de la volonté des citoyens européens. Ceux derniers démontrent de plus en plus souvent le manque de confiance aux élites politiques au pouvoir (et réciproquement - d’où la peur devant les électeurs). Les citoyens européens ont peur de perdre leurs sécurité:
- la sécurité économique (face à la crise économique montante de la zone euro);
- la sécurité vitale, celle de tous les jours (face à la crise migratoire et au terrorisme montant sur leur territoire).

Ici, il convient de souligner qu’une renaissance de partage Est/Ouest revient en Europe. Malheureusement, l’idée d’une Europe à plusieurs vitesses peut mener à des nouveaux partages stéréotypes en Europe, à la création des cercles intérieures d’intégration et à la création une „avant-garde d’intégration où les pays les plus forts domineront. Ainsi, une sorte de frustration est dirigée vers les pays de l’Est et leurs voisins. D’où vient encore une fois cette besoin de réformes qui est sans doute dans l’intérêt de toute l’Europe.
Andrzej Duda, le président polonais postule les priorités suivants:
- l’unité : les quatre unités européens - le droit, les institutions, le budget, le marché commun;
- la liberté : les quatre libertés : la libre circulation des biens, des capitaux, des services et des personnes.

En conclusion, les priorités de la Pologne dans le cadre de l’intégration européenne future sont suivants:
• plus de réactivité de L’UE (L’Union doit être plus réactive car souvent elle semble n’est pas prête de faire face aux problèmes qui apparaissent. Pourtant, elle est soumise aux processus globaux.);
• l’intégration élastique (pas de création de l’hiérarchie des forums d’intégration;
• question de libertés;
• l’intégration euro-atlantique;
• l’idée de „Trois-Mers” (Trójmorza) les mers: Adriatique, Baltique et Noire;
• plus de démocratie;
• une communauté des valeurs;
• l’élargissement de l’intégration européenne.

L’Europe face aux défis de la sécurité globale. L’Europe une forteresse ou un empire?

L’Europe d’aujourd’hui se retrouve confrontée aux défis suivants:
- le terrorisme;
- les conflits militaires;
- les empires extérieurs;
- le progrès technologique;
- l’impérialisme russe;
- la pression démographique - les migrations.

Aujourd’hui dans l’époque postatlantique, les dangers sont perçus des différentes manières - car les intérêts des États membres sont différents. Pourtant, face aux défis du monde de la globalisation, il est nécessaire qu’UE devient plus réactionnelle. Elle perds son attractivité et devient une institution qui se retire, se défend. De plus, elle constitue un obstacle pour elle même en approfondissant ses crises. La crise touche non seulement le continent européen mais aussi d’autres régions dans le monde entier. Tandis que l’Amérique mène une politique d’influences à l’extérieur, l’Europe prend une position défensive.
Pourtant, comme soulignait Fernand Braudel l’Europe constitue une Civilisation et les européens possèdent une Histoire plus longue.

écrit par dr Kinga Torbicka, chercheuse associée de l`Institut Europa Varietas

La politique européenne de sécurité et de défense commune : "Parce que l'Europe vaut bien une défense"
par André Dumoulin et Nicolas Gros-Verheyde
Editions du Villard (3 avril 2017)

Pour tout comprendre à l’Europe de la défense, il y a enfin une solution. Un manuel complet sur la « politique européenne de sécurité et de défense commune », le premier d’une longue série, publié aux éditions du Villard.

Une vraie « bible » sur l’Europe de la défense

C’est une première car il n’existe aujourd’hui, aucun ouvrage en français, à jour, faisant le tour de toutes les questions que pose l’Europe de la Défense, de façon claire et pédagogique. Ce qu’on appelle la « Politique européenne de sécurité et de défense commune » (PSDC) reste encore un no man’s land, bourré de fantasmes et largement méconnu.

Une politique encore méconnue

Née dans les Balkans, cette politique européenne devenue commune a évolué par à-coups. Certains la rêvent comme une « armée européenne » ou une alternative à l’OTAN. D’autres vilipendent sa faiblesse ou sa lenteur. La PESD devenue PSDC n’a ni ces ambitions ni ces tares. Au contraire ! Et elle recèle des avantages, mal connus. C’est tout l’enjeu de cet ouvrage : savoir comment fonctionne réellement l’Europe de la Défense.

Un ouvrage à quatre mains

Cet ouvrage est rédigé à quatre mains, par un universitaire et un journaliste, qui ont allié leur commune expertise : André Dumoulin (chargé de cours à l’université de Liège et professeur à l’Institut royal militaire – belge) et Nicolas Gros-Verheyde (rédacteur en chef de B2, ancien auditeur à l’IHEDN, correspondant de Sud-Ouest auprès de l’UE et de l’OTAN). Le premier apporte le recul historique pour comprendre, le second donne une mise en relief de l’actualité.

En savoir plus

From 3 to 14 April 2017 in the Western Mediterranean, 1 000 French soldiers participate in SKRENVIL operational training. This joint exercise between the French Army and the Navy is designed to ensure amphibious deployment procedures. As part of this operational training, an amphibious group is deployed in the Mediterranean. It is composed of the Dixmude (Projection and Command Ship,BPC), Cassard (Antiaircraft Frigate, FAA), Montcalm (Anti-submarine Frigate, FASM) and the Mediterranean demining group (GPD Med). Command Landing Group / CLG is provided at the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2nd REI).

A Joint Battle Group (GTIA) of the 6th Light Armored Brigade composed of different units of the 2th REI, 1st REG (Foreign Regiment of Engineers), 1st REC (Foreign Cavalry Regiment), 3rd RAMa (Marine Artillery Regiment) of the 5th RHC (Combat Helicopter Regiment), is created for the occasion. The major equipment involved is 15 VBCI (Armored Infantry Combat Vehicle) and a dozen VAB (Front Armored Vehicle), as well as 4 Puma and Gazelle helicopters.

The amphibious detachment boarded the Diksmuide with its 2 Equipment Chalands (CTM) and a Rapid Amphibious Landing Craft (EDAR).
This training consists of two phases:
- evacuation of nationals,
- followed by a grounding of the GTIA.
In total, some 20 vehicles, maneuver helicopters and attack helicopters will have to land in a coordinated way to make a progression of about 30 kilometers.

This training is characterized by a suitable training ground, the realism of the scenario, the means and the military capabilities. These are all specific features that allow the Army and the Navy to maneuver jointly and to be sufficiently reactive in the event of an amphibious operation.

29 March 1967: 50 years ago, Le Redoutable, first French SSBN to ensure the permanence of nuclear deterrence, was launched in the presence of General de Gaulle in France, single autonomous nuclear military power in Europe. Nuclear deterrence is designed to protect people against any aggression of state origin against our vital interests, wherever it may come from and whatever form it may take. Strictly defensive, its use is conceivable only in extreme circumstances of self-defense.

Following the Second World War, France, wants to make nuclear the keystone of the energy and strategic independence of the country. In 1958, the French military nuclear program was formalized by General de Gaulle. By mastering this technology France ensures a place alongside the American and Soviet superpowers. In the 1960s, it was decided to equip the navy with a nuclear launching submarine. On March 29, 1967, Le Redoutable was launched ..

A step is taken. But that activity still to be deployed before the presentation to the tests planned for 1969! The outer shells and thick shells are finished, but the access chambers, flaps of the torpedo tubes, the hydroreactors intended to stabilize the SNLE during the firing of the missiles must be mounted and the breach of the machined reactor compartment.

The gateway, the platforms and the incorporated boxes are installed at 90%. But the partitions are installed only 70% and the carlingages, the crossings of hull, the definitive ballasting to 35%. As for the sailing shelter with its ailerons, too high, it can not be mounted before the launch. For the propulsion, tank, exchangers and pressurizers were embarked, the primary circuit was tried, but clutch, turbo-reducer group, condensers and cradles of the turbo-generator group are being lineed. The main cable layers have been fitted, but the circuit-breaker cabinets are just embedded.

This launch seems modest at a time when the US nuclear submarine fleet is hosting its 41st SSBN and the Soviet fleet already has twenty such units. But with the completion in May of the construction of the Pierrelatte isotope separation plant, which is essential for the enriched uranium of the reactors, and the continuation of the experiments to reach the H-bomb, a major step is taken. "An additional and costly illustration of a ruinous, dangerous and inefficient military policy", according to L'Humanité, or "a capital day for our navy, our defense and, hence, our independence", according to General Le Redoutable does not leave indifferent.

Source

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker called for a common EU defence headquarters in September after the Brexit vote, resurrecting an idea that had circulated in the EU for years. Today, the European Union has approved plans for a military headquarters to coordinate overseas security operation, foreign and defence ministers of the 28 member states (Britain having long opposed it) "unanimously" backed the project.

The new MPCC (Military Planning Conduct and Capability facility) will command the EU's non-executive military missions. The facility will initially run three operations - civil-military training missions in Mali, the Central African Republic and Somalia - which do not involve the use of force, other than in self-defence. The MPCC will initially have a small staff of around 30 and come under the EU's existing military structures.

But top EU officials, including Ms Mogherini, have had to repeatedly issue reassurances that the bloc is not going to undercut NATO as the primary defence for Europe. Besides Britain, many of the former Communist states of eastern Europe such as Poland and Hungary have argued consistently that NATO must come first, given the need for US support in facing a more assertive Russia.

The EU has also mounted Operation Sophia in the central Mediterranean, which can use force to stop migrant smugglers, and Operation Atalanta, part of international antipiracy forces off the Horn of Africa, these executive operations have their own command centres which will remain separate.

The Swedish government has decided to reintroduce military conscription, abolished in 2010. It means that 4,000 men and women will be called up for service from 1 January 2018, selected from about 13,000 young people born in 1999, who will be asked to undergo a military assessment. The 13,000 who undergo the military tests will be a mixture of volunteers and conscripts. The Swedish recruitment system will be modelled on Norway's. In September, a Swedish garrison was restored to Gotland, a big island lying between the Swedish mainland and the three ex-Soviet Baltic states.

The return to conscription was prompted by the security change in the neighbourhood, Russian "illegal" annexation of Crimea[in 2014, the conflict in Ukraine and the increased military activity in the area. Russian menace pushes Sweden towards NATO, Swedish officials say Russian military aircraft frequently infringe Swedish airspace. 70% of the Swedish parliament is behind the decision to strengthen the military and co-operation with the countries around. The closest co-operation is with Finland, she added. Sweden and Finland are not in NATO, but co-operate closely with the alliance. Their Nordic neighbours Norway and Denmark are in NATO. Sweden has about 52,000 full-time military personnel - 20,000 of them permanent staff and most of the others Home Guard members.

Which other European countries have conscription?
Most of the 28 EU member states abolished military conscription. France and the UK - the main pillars of NATO defence in Western Europe - made their armed forces fully professional (France in 2001, the UK in 1963). Germany suspended conscription in 2011, but provision for it remains in the constitution. There is a debate now about reintroducing some form of national service.
Turkey has the second-largest armed forces in NATO, after the US military. Turkey has conscription for all men over the age of 20. They must serve between six and 15 months.
Greece has compulsory military service (9 months) for men from the age of 19. Cyprus - a longstanding source of Greek-Turkish tension - also has conscription.
Denmark, Norway and Finland have limited conscription, but their forces are overwhelmingly professional. Estonia and Lithuania - small Baltic states wary of Russian moves near their borders - have similar recruitment policies.
Switzerland operates a militia system, whereby men have to serve periods in the armed forces from 19 to 34 years of age, and keep their equipment at home.
In Russia all men aged 18-27 have to spend a year in the armed forces and Ukraine brought back conscription in 2014, when tensions with Russia escalated.

Which other East or Nord European countries, near to Russia or Ukraine, will also choice the same u-turn like Sweden?

Source : BBC.com

On March 1 st EUCAP Nestor, the European Union Maritime Capacity Building Mission to Somalia, will be renamed “EUCAP Somalia”, the EU Capacity Building Mission in Somalia.
A Council decision published on December 12th 2016 in the Official Journal of the European Union, states in article 1, EUCAP Somalia has been established as a Capacity Building Mission in Somalia.

The operational “switch-over” to the new Mission’s name is now taking place.
For the occasion, a redesign of the Mission's Website has been launched under www.eucap-som.eu . All past content from www.eucap-nestor.eu has been migrated and will be accessible on the new site.

EUCAP Somalia operates under a new, broadened civilian maritime security mandate. With an active presence in Mogadishu, Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Garowe (Puntland), EUCAP Somalia works to strengthen Somali capacity to ensure maritime security, carry out fisheries inspection and enforcement, ensure maritime search and rescue, counter smuggling, fight piracy and police the coastal zone on land and at sea.

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The Danish government is paying sickness and disability benefits to Danish citizens fighting in Syria for Islamic State. The PET (Danish Security and Intelligence Service) has identified 28 jihadis, Danish citizens fighting in Syria since 2014, who had been granted an early pension, or ‘førtidspension’, because they were judged too sick or disabled to work, and then gone to take part in the war in Syria.

It is a huge scandal that danish people disburse money from the welfare fund in Denmark for people who go to Syria, staying in a war zone and directly or indirectly taking part in military operations is not something that is in any way compatible with receiving disability benefits. PET provided the information as part of preparations for a parliamentary bill which aims to make it easier to cut off benefits to Danes fighting in Syria.
Last December the Ekstra Bladet newspaper reported that Danish municipalities and the country's state unemployment fund were attempting to claim back a total of 672,000 kroner ($100,000) in wrongfully disbursed payments from 29 of the 36 Danes PET then estimated were had been collecting benefits.

We know, since 2015, that ISIS fighters in Syria have been receiving also unemployment benefits from Denmark, according to the agency for Labour Market and Recruitment (STAR) via PET. Government data revealed that 32 Danish citizens have collected about 400,000 kroner ($57,000) in welfare from the government while fighting alongside the jihadist group in Syria.
Denmark’s unemployment insurance systems is one of the world’s most generous, as those on the dagpenge scheme can receive up to 801 kroner, around £78, per day for up to two years.

Denmark, congratulation! If you often refuse to financing EU CSDP missions/operations, please do not support our common enemies. After the scandal concerning the uneployment benefits, two additional years to unveil the abuse about disability benefits.

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