Paris, 3 June 2009 – On Wednesday the Assembly recommended enlisting wider support both from the national parliaments and the public at large for the “military Erasmus” programme for common initial training of European officers.

Presenting a report entitled “Education and training for ESDP: the military Erasmus initiative” on behalf of the Committee for Parliamentary and Public Relations, Yves Pozzo di Borgo (France, Federated Group) felt that “training, which often came last in the list of priorities for defence programmes, should be put first, as, chronologically, it was the first step towards endowing the ESDP with its most basic component: the men and women who make up our armies”.

Modelled on the European Erasmus university exchange programme, the new project was launched in November 2008. A working group has been set up within the framework of the European Security and Defence College to handle reciprocal education and training arrangements offered by several EU member states. According to Mr Pozzo di Borgo, the idea was to establish “an exchange network, on a voluntary basis, between as many military academies as possible”.

The Rapporteur stressed the important role that national parliamentarians could play in their respective countries in promoting “such training activities during defence policy budget debates”. He went on to say that parliamentarians should “press home to their governments the priority nature of the exchanges and ensure they are developed and financed. The public should also be kept informed, because European defence and joint operations cannot succeed without public support”.

Given the current economic crisis that is likely to result in overall cuts in defence budgets, the Rapporteur and the Assembly wish to highlight “the economic and social benefits” of the military Erasmus. “A continual source of employment, a military career and openings in Europe are an asset for young people looking for stable, long-term skilled employment. Training provided in military academies in a modern framework of international openness will have added appeal”, Mr Pozzo di Borgo concluded.