Synchronized Armed Forces Europe
Encyclopedia
Synchronised Armed Forces Europe (SAFE) is a concept for an ever closer synchronisation of the European forces under the Common Security and Defence Policy.

The concept was adopted on the 10th November 2008 by Hans-Gert Pöttering
Hans-Gert Pöttering
Hans-Gert Pöttering is a German conservative politician , and was the President of the European Parliament from January 2007 to July 2009...

, President of the European Parliament
President of the European Parliament
The President of the European Parliament presides over the debates and activities of the European Parliament. He or she also represents the Parliament within the EU and internationally. The President's signature is required for enacting most EU laws and the EU budget.Presidents serve...

 during the 7th Berlin security conference.

On 21 January 2009 agreed Committee on Foreign Affair
Committee on Foreign Affairs (EU)
The Committee on Foreign Affairs , previously called Political Affairs, is a committee of the European Parliament...

 of the European Parliament with a large majority for the concept and added it in the annual report of the European Parliament on Common Security and Defence Policy. Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...

 are currently discussing the implementation of the concept.

Contents of the concept

SAFE is based on voluntary participation (opt-in model) and should lead to a synchronisation of the European forces leadership. The opt-in model is the concept that is also applied to the Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...

 or Schengen Area
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area comprises the territories of twenty-five European countries that have implemented the Schengen Agreement signed in the town of Schengen, Luxembourg, in 1985...

and it offers sufficient leeway for the neutrality of some members and military alliances of others. SAFE encourages the dynamic development of cooperation and deepens the national armed forces towards a closer synchronisation. SAFE approves the principle of a Europe-wide division of labour in military capabilities. In addition, SAFE is open to military careers in the national armed forces for all Europeans, from the member countries that participate. This is already realised in the Belgian and Irish armed forces, and, rudimentary, among the German-Dutch reservists.

As part of SAFE, a European statute concerning the regulation of training standards of soldiers will be developed. Furthermore, among the standards to be developed there will be an operational doctrine and a unification of rules and regulations concerning:
  • freedom of action
  • questions of rights and obligations
  • the quality of equipment and medical care
  • social security in case of death, injury and invalidity.

Objectives of the concept

SAFE aims to develop integrated European security structures. These will include civil and military capabilities.

Recent developments

On 20 Feb 2009 the European Parliament voted yes to create "SAFE" (Synchronised Armed Forces Europe) as a first step towards a true European military force. SAFE will be directed by an EU directorate, with its own training standards and operational doctrine. There are also plans to create an EU "Council of Defence Ministers" and "a European statute for soldiers within the framework of Safe governing training standards, operational doctrine and freedom of operational action".

External links

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