Our Partner-Friends in Europe and the United States of America
Germany’s OSCE Chairmanship 2016
On January first 2016 Germany assumed the Chairmanship of the Organization for Security Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and is now responsible for steering the Organization safely through the stormy tides of crises and challenges in 2016. This is the second time that Germany has headed the world’s largest Regional Security Organisation, the previous time was in 1991.
Germany’s Chairmanship focuses on the following areas:
•Continuing conflict-crisis management in and around Ukraine and in the other unresolved conflicts in the OSCE area;
•Strengthening the OSCE’s capabilities in the entire conflict cycle, i.e. early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post‑conflict Peacebuilding;
•Strengthening the OSCE as a platform for dialogue, for instance on questions of pan‑European security, confidence‑ and security-building measures and Defence against common threats;
•Sustainable promotion of connectivity and good Governance in the OSCE area;
•Particular focus on the Human dimension to safeguard joint commitments regarding Human Rights and the fundamental Freedom.
The Permanent Diplomatic Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OSCE is in Vienna. And Federal Foreign Minister Dr.Frank-Walter Steinmeier leads the OSCE as The Chairperson-in-Office.
The Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2016
In 2016 the Netherlands holds the EU Presidency for the twelfth time. The last time was in 2004. Holding the Presidency involves mediating and brokering compromises between the 28 EU member states and between EU institutions like the Council, European Commission and European Parliament. The Netherlands’ central aim is that European Union place its focus more on what matters to Europe’s citizens, Economy and businesses. Thus its Priorities highlights Prosperity, Freedom and Security in Europe.
Among many areas that the Dutch Government plans to improve during its EU Presidency are: To promote European Culture, Tackling Migration Crisis, in the highly competitive Global market helping to Promote the European Aviation, and to Enhance European Cyber Defence .
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa / U.S. 6th Fleet
The United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa Command (NAVEUR-NAVAF) is the component of the U.S European Command and the U.S Africa Command.
The NAVEUR – NAVAF Command have the responsibilities of approximately half of the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Pole to Antarctica; as well as the Adriatic, Baltic, Barents, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean and North Seas. And it covers all of Russia, Europe and nearly the entire continent of Africa encompassing 105 countries with a combined population over one billion and includes a landmass extending more than 14 million square miles.
The official formation of German-Armed-Forces is dated back on November 12, 1955. The first 101 volunteers in German Military received their appointments on the occasion of the birthday anniversary of the Revolutionary, Reformist the Military Commander General Gerhard von Scharnhorst. A few months later in April 1956 its official name Die Bundeswehr came into existence representing the German Federal Armed-Forces. Since then the Bundeswehr has been a vital part of NATO, UN, and in the most EU Military external missions.
The U.S. Army Europe ‘USAREUR’ is the U.S Army’s Leadership in Europe with the central aim of strengthening U.S-European Military partnerships, and to bolster the European Security and Defense via the continuous Training, Exercises, joint Maneuvers and combining efforts..
USAREUR’s enduring purpose is to be responsive and engaged; providing the full range of land power capabilities to EUCOM and other combatant commands to prevent, shape, and win and is:
•Responsive to U.S. European Command and other Combatant Commands.
•Engaged with regional partners.
•Trained and ready to support combatant commands with land power to prevent conflict, shape the environment and win decisively any conflict.
Army Europe:
•Provides a visible symbol of U.S. commitment to the region and the European allies.
•Ensures US strategic access to Europe and beyond through a frequency and intensity of interaction with allies and partners that greatly exceed that achievable by CONUS-based forces.
•Enables the development of stronger relationships that set the conditions for multinational interoperability.
With the HQ in Wiesbaden, Germany, and seven major garrisons in three countries , U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51 country Area of Responsibility in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships the Army builds during more than 1000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations with Europe and around the world, to strengthen Regional Partnerships, and enhance Global Security. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges from Army is the Commanding General and Brig. Gen. Markus Laubenthal from the Bundeswehr is Chief of Staff of the U.S Army Europe
Under the authority of the United Nations (UN Security Council Resolution 1244) NATO has been leading a Peace Support Operation in Kosovo since June 1999 in support of wider International efforts to build Peace and Stability in the area.
The Operational Missions:
•Contribute to a safe and secure environment
•Support and coordinate the international humanitarian effort and civil presence
•Support the development of a stable, democratic, multi-ethnic and peaceful Kosovo
•Support the development of the Kosovo Security Force
Today, approximately 5,000 Troops from the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), provided by 31 countries (23 NATO and 8 KFOR partners) continue to contribute towards maintaining a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic origin.
The HQ of KFOR is located at Camp Film City, Pristina under the authority of rotating Commander of KFOR (COMKFOR)
The United States Air Forces in Europe and Africa ‘USAFE-AFAFRICA’
The U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa ‘USAFE-AFAFRICA’ , with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is a major Command of the U.S. Air Force. It is the Air component for two Department of Defense unified Commands – U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. During most of the Cold War, USAFE-AFAFRICA was a fight-in-place Force postured for a large-scale conflict. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, it has transitioned to an Air Expeditionary Force with a Mobile and Deployable mix of people and resources that can simultaneously Operate in Multiple Locations.
The Operational Missions:
• To executes the Air Force, USEUCOM and USAFRICOM missions with forward-based Air-Power and infrastructure and to conduct and enable theater and Global Operations
• To direct Air Operations in a theater spanning three Continents, covering more than 15 million square miles, containing 104 independent states, and possessing more than one-fifth of the World’s population and more than a quarter of the world’s gross domestic product
• Its role includes War-fighting
• The Humanitarian Relief, Peacekeeping Operations
• And other non-Traditional Contingencies throughout its area of responsibility
In peacetime, U.S Air Forces Europe-Africa, Trains and equips Air-Force Units pledged to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ‘NATO’ and to the Peace and Stability of African States. In fulfilling its NATO responsibilities, USAFE-AFAFRICA maintains Combat-ready Wings Based from the United Kingdom to Turkey. The U.S. Air Forces in Europe -and the U.S Air Forces in Africa: Plans, Conducts, Controls, Coordinates and Supports Air and Space Operations in Europe and Africa to achieve U.S. National and NATO objectives based on tasking by the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM Commanders. The USAFE-AFAFRICA has seven main Operating Bases along with 114 geographically separated Locations, working closely with the Allied to foster Strong Europe, and maintain Security and Peace in the World.
European Union Naval Force Somalia – Operation ATALANTA
was launched in December 2008, within the framework of the European Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions and the International Law. With the Comprehensive Approach, the Operational area covers the Southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and a large part of the Indian Ocean, including the Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, the Somalia’s coastal and internal waters.
The Operational Mandate:
• To Protect World Food Programme (WFP) Vessels delivering aid to displaced persons in Somalia, and African Union Mission on Somalia (AMISOM) shipping
• To Deter, prevent and disrupt piracy and armed robbery at Sea
• To Protect vulnerable shipping off the Somali Coast on a case by case basis
• To Supports other EU Missions and International Organisations working to strengthen Maritime Security and capacity in the Region
• In addition, the EU NAVFOR also contributes to the monitoring of fishing activities off the coast of Somalia
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo EULEX
is one of the largest Law-Enforcement Mission, under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), launched by EU Member States in February 2008, and reached full Operational capacity in April 2009. The central aim of the mission is to assist and support the Kosovo Authorities in the Rule of Law area, specifically in the Police, Judiciary and Customs areas.
EULEX implements its Mandate through Four Operational Objectives:
• Monitoring, Mentoring and Advising
•Executive Objective
•North Objective
•Support to Dialogue Implementation Objective
It also fosters contacts with Law-Enforcement and Police, Judicial Authorities in the Region and with INTERPOL and EUROPOL, to ensure their support to all investigations and liaises with relevant Serbian Authorities. The mission consists mainly of: Judges, Prosecutors, Law-Enforcement, Police Officers, and Customs Officials.
With the Headquarters in Pristina and Kosovo, EULEX has a unified Chain of Command to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and to EU Member States (Political and Security Committee). The Contributing Nations are from most of EU member States as well as Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States.
European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova- Ukraine ‘EUBAM’ was launched in 2005. With four-times extension, the Mission has its Mandate until 30 November 2017. EUBAM Operates to promote border control, customs and trade norms and practices that meet EU standards and serve the needs of its two partner countries. The Mission is headquartered in Odesa (Ukraine). It has an EUBAM Office in Moldova and five field offices – two on the Moldovan side of the joint border and three on the Ukrainian side.
The Mission’s Objectives:
• To work with Moldova and Ukraine to harmonise border control, and customs and trade standards and procedures with those in EU Member States
• To improve cross-border cooperation between the border guard and customs agencies and other Law-Enforcement bodies; facilitate International cooperation
• To assist Moldova-Ukraine to fulfill the obligations of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) they have signed as part of their Association Agreements with the EU
• To contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict through confidence building measures and a monitoring presence at the Transnistrian segment of the Moldova-Ukraine border
European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia is an unarmed Civilian Monitoring Mission of the European Union. The Mission was launched in September 2008 following the EU-mediated Six Point Agreement which ended the August war.
The Objectives of Mission:
•To ensure that there is no return to hostilities;
•To facilitate the resumption of a safe and normal life for the local communities living on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Lines (ABL) with Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
•To build confidence among the conflict parties;
•To inform EU policy in Georgia and the wider region
The EUMM has about 200 Monitors from various EU Member States working on the ground, with the Headquarters in Tbilisi and the Field Offices in Gori, Mtskheta and Zugdidi.
European Union Military Operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Operation ALTHEA is the European Union’s Military Contribution to the Stabilisation and Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European Family of Nations. The Operation was launched in December 2004. It has contributed to the maintenance of the safe and secure environment in BiH ever since. The launch of Operation ALTHEA followed the decision by NATO to conclude its SFOR-Operation and the adoption by the UN Security Council of resolution 1575 authorizing the deployment of an EU Force (EUFOR) in BiH. The European Union’s Mission Statement
In the framework of Operation ALTHEA, the EU initially deployed 7000 troops, to ensure continued compliance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in BiH and to contribute to a safe and secure environment. Operation ALTHEA is carried out with recourse to NATO Assets and Capabilities, under the ‘Berlin Plus Agreement’
The Objectives of Mission:
• To provide Capacity Building and Training to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) and supporting them in their progression towards NATO standards
• To provide deterrence and continued compliance with the responsibility to fulfill the role specified in Annexes 1A and 2 of the Dayton/Paris Agreement (General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH)
• To contribute to a safe and secure environment in BiH, in line with its mandate
• And to achieve core Tasks in the OHR’s Mission Implementation Plan, the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP)
The Diplomatic Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America
The European Union is a unique Economic and Political partnership among 28 Diverse Democracies united in their commitment to Peace, Democracy, the Rule of Law, and Respect for Human Rights. It is Represented in the United States by the Washington DC Delegation of the European Union, a full-fledged Diplomatic Mission working in close coordination with the Embassies and Consulates of the 28 EU Member States.
The Delegation Represents the European Union in relations with the U.S. Government in areas that are part of the EU’s remit. It promotes EU policies in the U.S, which includes presenting and explaining EU actions to the U.S. Administration and Congress, while engaging with Political Actors, the Media, Academia, Business, and Civil Society. It also raises awareness of EU issues and concerns, and promotes the importance of the EU-U.S. Relationship. The EU Delegation, simultaneous, analyzes and reports on the Political, Social, and Economic situation in the U.S. to its Headquarters in Brussels.
Since 2014 Ambassador David O’Sullivan is the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America. Follow the latest news from the Ambassador’s Office.
Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, originally from Dutch ‘Central Planning Bureau’ CPB, was founded in 1945. The Bureau is a part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. And its director is appointed by the Minister, in consultation with other members of the Government. However, in its work and content, CPB is fully independent with its own Legal Mandate and Executive Advisory Committee. Its Central Planning Committee (CPC) is currently chaired by Hans Smits.
Research Projects at CPB are carried out on CPB’s own initiative, or at the request of:
•The Government
•The Parliament
•Individual Members of Parliament
•The National Trade Unions
The Founding Director of ‘Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis’ CPB was Jan Tinbergen (1945-1955) the Pioneer of Econometrics and Laureate of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1969.
Theresan Military Academy of Austria ,founded by Empress Maria Theresa in December 1751, is a highly Prestigious, the oldest Military Institution only second to Italian Military Academy of Modena, in the World.
The Academy, since 2005, has been exchanging lecturers and students with other countries. The main purpose is to increase Interoperability and Intercultural Competence so as to manage future challenges. The “European Initiative for the exchange of young Officers inspired by ERASMUS” is a EU-programme that emphasizes the importance of the International exchange programmes. Within that the Theresan Military Academy offers various modules and has taken over the lead for the Peace Support Operations Module within the EU.
The Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich is a center of competence for Swiss and International Security Policy. It offers security policy expertise in research, teaching, and consultancy and operates the International Relations and Security Network (ISN). The CSS promotes understanding of Security Policy challenges as a contribution to a more Peaceful World. Its work is independent, practice-relevant, and based on a sound academic footing.
The CSS combines research and policy consultancy and, as such, functions as a bridge between Academia and Practice. It trains highly qualified junior researchers and serves as a point of contact and information for the interested public. The CSS also operates the International Relations and Security Network (ISN) as a leading global open-source information platform in the field of International Relations and Security Policy.
The International Relations and Security Network (ISN) is one of the World’s leading open access Foundation by the Center for Security Studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
Since its inception in 1994, the International Relation Security Network in Zurich has been engaged on: facilitating Security-related dialogue and cooperation within a trusted network of International organizations, Professionals and Experts, and has been providing open-source on International Relations and Security-Related subjects.
The organization’s achievements:
• Facilitating policy debates and Security-related dialogue;
• Raising the expertise of the institutions and individuals who benefit from the above efforts through active knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• Being a driving International Relations and Security-Centered Force in web-based content/data distribution and management. The ISN Regional Research and Subjects
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Founded by President Benjamin Franklin (Political Philosopher, Scientist, Author and the 6th President of United States of American) in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania is one of the most prestige, influential Academic Institute, with over 25,000 students in the U.S. The University has achieved a world wide appeals on its Academic Excellence while it scores among top 10 Universities in the U.S. Penn has also the most advanced and successful Research and Teaching Institutions with the annual budget of higher than $800 million.
Penn is also one of the main Academic hosts in United States for sponsoring a wide range of International and US-European conferences and events. In its latest event President Gauck of Germany was invited to deliver a Speech
Penn Global (Perry World House)
The New York City Fire Department of General von Steuben Association was established in 1963 in New York Ciy, to keep alive the German-American Heritage and History. The Association is one of the main founders and participants in Gen.von Steuben Day Parade in New York City. It is important to note that most German heritage background, while immigrated in the last four hundred years in the U.S, they became crucial role players in the U.S Armed-Forces, Law-Enforcement, Fire Departments and other Military related Scientific fields. Today across the U.S and very especially in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Eastern States there are significant numbers of General von Steuben Associations founded by the United States Armed-Forces, Fire Deparmtnets and Law-Enforcement. Once a year in the third Saturday in September (near Gen.von Steuben’s Birthday anniversary) they honour the Prußian Military Commander General von Steuben and his contribution to the General Washington Continental Army in 1778.
Aktion Deutschland Hilft e. V. (Germany’s Relief Coalition) was founded in 2001 aiming to jointly deliver aid in large scale disaster situations in a timely, effective and cost efficient manner. It’s first appeal was held for a national disaster to support people impacted by the flooding of the Elbe in Germany. Since then a lot of international appeals have been launched (e.g. tsunami 2004, earthquake Haiti, typhoon Yolanda, refugees in Syria since 2012 and many more). Starting with 10 member in 2002, the ADH has grown to 24 organizations in 2015, thus forming the largest Relief Alliance in Germany. Germany’s Relief Coalition is a union of German relief organisations that can provide rapid and effective aid in the case of large catastrophes and emergency situations abroad.
The Former Federal President Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler.
Foreign Minister Dr. Frank Walter Steinmeier leads the Board of Trustees from Germany’s Relief Coalition.
Peace Operations Training Institute ‘POTI’
is an International non-governmental organization based in the United States. POTI provides courses on Peace Support, Humanitarian Relief, and Security Operations in English with varied availability in French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic. The Institute is sponsored by several European Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among other funders. And its Board of Directors is chaired by Major General Tim Ford (Retd) of Australia.
View The Peace Operations Training Institute Newsletter Archive
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