As part of the ongoing Project DEMETER, a new contract has been signed between NATO and Systematic to extend and expand the delivery of both classroom and computer-based learning, Systematic announced on 28 January 2026. The contract ensures seamless continuation and adaptation of current and future land command-and-control (C2) training while also securing the alliance’s…
While highlighting the interdependency and symbiotic relationship between NATO Europe and the European Union, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has nevertheless stressed in a recent speech that “if anyone thinks … that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming. You can’t.” Rutte was addressing a…
Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sir John Stringer of the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has been appointed as NATO’s next Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 22 January 2026. In doing so ACM Stringer will be become the most senior UK military officer in NATO, the first…
The first day of the 21st NATO Life Cycle Management Conference in Brussels was very well received by participants. It was appreciated to have a format that brought the communities together. In contrast to former years, a lot of new faces testify to the relevance of the topic and the format. After the opening by the…
Interview with Lt General Michiel van der Laan, Director General EU Military Staff (EUMS) and Director Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), Brussels The European: General, you currently serve as both Director General of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) and Director of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC). Do you see yourself as…
by Gérard Cardonne, Reporter without borders, Strasbourg (Hartmut Bühl) After writing the foreword to his book “The Violinist of Sarajevo” (Le violoniste de Sarajevo, 2023), I had the pleasure of presenting the CIDAN Prize for “European Values” to Gérard Cardonne in Berlin in November 2024 as a reward for his journalistic and humanitarian commitment. I…
by Hartmut Bühl, Paris I n a conversation at the end of November 2024, I was able to ask the High Representative for Implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina (HR), Christian Schmidt, about his duties. I was interested in his view on the EU accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which…
Interview with Dr Peter Wagner, Head of the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Commission, Brussels The European: Dr Wagner, you are the Head of the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) which is under the responsibility of the High Representative of the Union/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP). Could you briefly…
(nc) Bulgaria and Romania both joined the European Union on 1 January 2007. We wanted to know more about their stony way back to Europe after decades of Soviet influence and the benefits that EU membership has finally brought to their societies. We asked two former defence ministers, one Romanian, the other Bulgarian, to give…
by Elise Bernard, PhD, Head of Studies Robert Schuman Foundation / civilian attendee, War College, Paris Georgia currently finds itself in a complex situation, caught between its pro-western ambitions and the constraints imposed by Russia. The main scenarios and dynamics for its future seem contradictory, which radicalises positions and fosters fear and surprise. Georgia…