A seminar to advance the "military Erasmus" project.
European soldiers during the military parade of 14 July 2007
© ECPAD
- from: 13.11.2008
- to: 14.11.2008
- In: Paris
After the consensus reached by the defence ministers in Deauville last October, a high-level seminar will be dedicated to the implementation terms of this European exchange programme.
A high-level seminar will take place on 13 and 14 November 2008 in Paris, to address "the European initiative for exchanges between young officers", also known as "military ERASMUS" which draws upon the well-known student exchange programme. The seminar will be opened by the French Minister of State for Defence and Veterans, Jean-Marie Bockel, accompanied by General Henri Bentégeat, the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC). Jean-Louis Georgelin, the Chief of the French Defence Staff, and his Czech counterpart whose country will next hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Council, will conclude the seminar.
This initiative, which received the consensus from all 27 Defence ministers in Deauville, on 2 October last, should be the subject of a declaration of intent at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 10 November.
In line with the EU Defence Ministers' intentions, this seminar aims at defining the issues and the modalities of implementing the project. Institutional, political and academic experts from civilian and military backgrounds willl assess the possibilities and limits of this initiative. They will base their work on a European inventory, conducted three months ago, on the teaching and exchanges already on offer for young officers in military academies.
Encouraing the convergence of training programmes and reinforcing exchanges between military schools within the EU, under study during this seminar, are part of developing a common European defence culture. The French Presidency wishes to foster this latter aspect, supported by the other EU Member States.
- Updated: 01.12.2008
