Press Releases

The European Organisation of Military Associations (EUROMIL) is an umbrella organization composed of 40 military associations and trade unions from 27 countries. It is the main Europe-wide forum for cooperation among professional military associations on issues of common concern. EUROMIL strives to secure and advance the human rights, fundamental freedoms and socio-professional interests of military personnel of all ranks in Europe and promotes the concept of “Citizen in Uniform”. As such, a soldier is entitled to the same rights and obligations as any other citizen. EUROMIL particularly calls for recognition of the right of servicemen and -women to form and join trade unions and independent associations and for their inclusion in a regular social dialogue by the authorities. Soldiers are highly skilled employees, who have the legitimate right to promote their social and professional interests - as do other workers.

EUROMIL was informed about the imprisonment, yesterday morning, of Jorge Bravo, President of its Spanish association Asociación Unificada de Militares Españoles (AUME), for a period of one month and one day in a military prison near Madrid. The immediate arrest of Mr. Bravo is a consequence of the disciplinary proceedings launched by the military authorities against him, after a statement he made on 16 July 2012 in the media, considering that defence budget cuts should concentrate on superfluous spending rather than salaries.

EUROMIL expresses its full support, solidarity and sympathy with AUME and Jorge Bravo in this difficult situation.

It is the third time AUME’s President is condemned for statements delivered to the media. J. Bravo was already imprisoned for one month and one day in January 2007, for commenting a helicopter accident in Afghanistan, and for one month and ten days in October 2007, for participating and delivering a speech, in civilian clothes, in a demonstration of the Civil Guard.

Despite some positive developments in the recognition of servicemen and –women rights in Spain, such as the adoption, in 2011, of the Law on Rights and Duties for the Members of the Armed Forces, establishing the right of association for military personnel, restrictions of their fundamental rights remain high.

EUROMIL regrets that Spain continues to impose undue restrictions on the right of association for military personnel and strongly condemns the current repressive measures taken against Jorge Bravo.

Military associations are recognized in several countries across Europe as valuable partners for defence administrations. Experience has shown that the right of association has not compromised combat efficiency or military discipline. On the contrary, involving democratic military associations in a permanent social dialogue has de facto improved the moral and loyalty of troops. In times of increased operational pace, military associations and unions can be a powerful ally to raise awareness and to articulate the professional interests and concerns of military personnel. Associations can also enhance the status of the military profession in society. EUROMIL therefore calls on the Spanish authorities to immediately drop all disciplinary or judicial measures against members of military associations in Spain.

On behalf of the military personnel in Europe, EUROMIL hopes that the Government of Spain will do everything in its power to support the present request and ensure that all Spanish military personnel will be treated as “Citizens in Uniform” in the future.

STATEMENT BY EMMANUEL JACOB, PRESIDENT OF EUROMIL, ON THE OCCASION OF THE EUROPEAN DAY OF ACTION AND SOLIDARITY, 14 NOVEMBER 2012

The European Organisation of Military Associations (EUROMIL), an umbrella organization composed of 43 military associations and trade unions from 28 countries, joins the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) call for a European Day of Action and Solidarity on 14 November 2012 to mobilise in favour of employment and solidarity and against austerity.

EUROMIL is the main Europe-wide forum for cooperation among professional military associations on issues of common concern. The organisation strives to secure and advance the human rights, fundamental freedoms and socio-professional interests of military personnel of all ranks in Europe and promotes the concept of “Citizen in Uniform”. As such, a soldier is entitled to the same rights and obligations as any other citizen.

The European Trade Unions are protesting against austerity measures “…dragging Europe into economic stagnation, indeed recession with the result that growth has stopped and unemployment is rising inexorably. Cuts to salaries and social protection are attacking the European social model, worsening imbalances and fostering injustice.” (ETUC Press Release 5/11/2012)

Since EUROMIL signed a cooperation agreement with the ETUC in 1998, it supported the European Trade Union movement on several occasions, such as recently during the Euro-demonstrations in Brussels in September 2010 and in Budapest in April 2011.

European armed forces and their military personnel are not spared by the negative impact of the severe austerity measures and defence budget cuts induced by the economic and financial crisis. Soldiers have to pay twice for this crisis. Firstly as civilians, they have to share the efforts every citizen is making by, for instance, paying new taxes, having their income reduced and their social security systems cut. Secondly as soldiers, they have to assume the consequences of the cutbacks in their defence budgets! Defence budgets only consisting of a few pillars, namely training and operations, investments and personnel, soldiers are always affected by budget cuts: poor training and preparation for military operations abroad would put soldiers in danger; a lack of investments would induce inadequate equipment for those sent out in missions, which would jeopardize their safety; and a reduction of the number of personnel would have important human consequences.

Despite the financial and economic crisis, soldiers’ terms and conditions of employment must be maintained to the greatest extent possible. Above all, what military associations cannot accept is an outrageous regression of established rights.

The armed forces are composed of human beings who have chosen to serve their country as citizens in uniform. The fact that these men and women happen to be wearing a uniform does not negate their rights as citizens of that country. EUROMIL strongly regrets that some European countries continue to impose undue restrictions on the right of association for military personnel and particularly calls for the recognition of the right of servicemen and -women to form and join trade unions and independent associations and that these are included in a regular social dialogue by the authorities. Soldiers are highly-skilled employees, who have the legitimate right to promote their social and professional interests - as do other workers.

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.

The European Organisation of Military Associations - EUROMIL  - was informed by its Hungarian Member Honvédszakszervezet (HOSZ), that the Parliament has adopted on 14th June 2011 the proposal No. T/3199 submitted by the governing party, thus amending the Constitution of the Republic of Hungary.
This amendment based on Proposal No. T/3199 is part of a move by the government to discontinue the possibility of early retirement for all Hungarian citizens, including members of the armed forces and other public services. That means the earliest age to receive a pension will be 65 years of age. The amendment clearly allows for the retroactive reduction of previously allocated and disbursed funds for pensions and their transformation into a social support scheme. In such cases where an individual still is considered to be able to work, the beforehand granted pension transformed into social support can be annulled entirely.
Both, the current constitution and the Basic Law announced on 25th April 2011 and replacing the present Constitution on 1st January 2012 order the requirements of pension entitlement to be set by law. Therefore, HOSZ and other unions emphasise that there is no constitutionally acceptable reason for amendments foreseen by proposal No. T/3199. The only “gain” of the Proposal will be a limitation of power to exercise control of the Constitutional Court. In the past court rulings contradicted some laws initiated by the government.
EUROMIL strongly regrets and disapproves the amendment to the constitution as it can potentially ruin thousands of families who were entitled to and counting on support based on past regulations on early retirement. It affects especially servicemen and –women of the armed forces. The special requirements and peculiarities of the military profession (e.g. high demands on mental strength and physical fitness, on flexibility and involving sacrifices by means of restrictions on rights and in lifestyle) only allow a certain percentage of personnel to remain in service until full retirement age of 65 years. Up to now military employees were entitled to their full pension after 25 years of service and reaching 50 years of age. With new regulation they will have to wait another 15 years before benefitting from their earned pension.
 
Considering that, due to frozen salaries in the public sector since 2002, armed forces personnel in Hungary already have very low wages in comparison to other sectors, benefits and allowances have a high significance for the military personnel, the attractiveness of the profession and thus for the security of the nation. Those who decided to serve their country with loyalty and dignity and the will to sacrifice civil rights, health and ultimately their life in service of their nation are entitled to appropriate remuneration. Therefore, cancelling early retirement is unacceptable and unfair.
Personally and as President of EUROMIL, I think it is hard to believe that a country, which has always been the most progressive of the post-communist European countries, can change so drastically. EUROMIL expresses its full support, solidarity and sympathy to HOSZ, the Hungarian soldiers and all citizens. We wish them all the courage and strength needed to put enough pressure on the Hungarian government and the parliament to rethink this unfair measure.

Emmanuel Jacob
President

EUROMIL will organise its bi-annual general assembly, the 103^rd Presidium meeting, in Stockholm on 15-16 April 2011. The Presidium brings together delegates of all EUROMIL member associations for the exchange of experience and best practice.

This spring the programme offers presentations on Post-Traumati-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) by Dr. Mette Bertelsen, on “Military Pension Systems in Europe” by experts from EUROMIL member associations and a presentation by General Rob van der Meer, Chairman of Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO (COMEDS).

The Presidium meeting will be opened by Emmanuel Jacob, EUROMIL President and Lars Fresker, President of SAMO (Swedish Association of Military Officers).

General Sverker Göranson, Supreme Commander Swedish Armed Forces and Allan Widman, Member of the Defence Committee in the Swedish Parliament will be keynote speakers.