

EuroCorps Franco-German ingoing+outgoing Commanders Kolodziej+Weigt to EF: Experience for EU Army+?
*Strasbourg/Pavillon Josephine/Angelo Marcopolo/- Replying to "Eurofora"'s Questions at the Official Press Conference of EuroCorps' Leadership, on the occasion of the Bi-Annual "Change of Command", for 2019-2021, Chaired by German Army's Chief of Staff, General Eberhard Zorn, Both EuroCorps' Commanders, the out-going General Jurgen Weigt (Germany), and the incoming General Laurent Kollodziej (France), ensured on the Trasmission of a Rare Experience for the EU and NATO, and Highlighted the Perspectives towards an eventual Creation of a European Army in the Future :
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- Speaking on behalf of the Group of 5 Chiefs of Staff from Eurocorps' Framework Nations (See Infra), the Highest Body, the Chairing General Zorn, German Army's Chief, started, in a Perfect French, by reminding that he had served already at the Franco-German Brigade, as well as to the Allies' Chiefs of Staff (Headquarters) in Paris". ...
- "For me, EuroCorps is the "Hard Core" for a Common Defense in Europe, but Also for serving NATO" here, "and I am Glad that we have Reached that level", he stressed from the outset.
- "Eurofora", invited to raise a Question, observed that all involved had Spoken Both about EuroCorps' unique Experience, as well as about its Future Perspectives for the EU and NATO. Thus, we Asked How they believed that this Valuable Acquired Experience could be Saveguarded, Transmitted and Valorized Both Inside EuroCorps itself, and throughout All Europe, as well as which Main, Short and/or Long-Term Perspectives they could Highlight for it in the foreseable Future, particularly in relation with European Defense, given also EU's forthcoming 2020 Debates on its Overhaul ("New Foundation").
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- "My Reply is TwoFold : At First, I think that the Experience Acquired on the Spot (on the Theaters of Operations), and/or in the Preparations for NATO's Reaction Force, is mainly Incorporated into Each Individual Soldier, and, thus, Transmitted to the (Framework) Nations", observed Eurocorps' out-going Commander, the German General Weigt.
- And "I think that it has a Considerable Added Value, Both for Us, EuroCorps, and the Nations", he added. "Because, f.ex., the Soldiers who have been Living, Every Day, what Multi-Nationality means" in real practice, "it's even More Important than to simply describe Concepts, or form some centers of excellence, etc, because that's something which happened Once in the Past. Naturally, this Know-How should also be ReViewed and OverHauled in the Future. But, for me, the Most Important Memory's Added Value is the Individual Soldier, who has Acquired a know-how, and is able to Transmit it to his immediate environment".
+ "Moreover, all these operations, naturally have also consequences and leave their traces even on Basic Documents, the Tactics and the Concepts which Result from all those operational Experiences, and that we are Trying to Integrate into our Doctrine, which is made from our Everyday Practical Life", he added.
- Weigt had Earlier evoked Also the Idea of a kind of "Network", Speaking in front of 5 Former Commanders of EuroCorps, with almost All of whom, "Eurofora" had already cooperated in the Past, (See, f.ex., among others, also : ..., etc).
+ And, concerning the Future, he had expressed the view that, in fact, "EuroCorps is More than just a Military Unit", because, "SInce its Inception, in 1992, it has been regarded (also) as a ...Symbol of Peace and ReConciliation in Europe", added to its "MultiNational Design, and ...Legitimacy", to the point that it could be also "viewed as a Catalyst of Political - Military European Cooperation", particularly "at a Moment when Europe is in Need of Visible Symbols of Unity".
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- "I have something to Add to the Reply (to "Eurofora"s Questions : Comp. Supra) given by General Weigt", intervened, afterwards, the French General Kolodziel :
- "He Described how this Eurocorps - Tool Develops its Expertise. Concerning the Perspectives about NATO and/or EU, this Tool is very Flexible and Multi-Facet" :
- "F.ex., it is Able to Work, Alternatively, for one Structure, or anOther. Knowing that the Procedures are, generally, the Same, and that it's the Political Framework of the Decision-Making, which will, finally, be Decisive", as he pointed out.
+ And, "at any case, Regarding that Issue of European Defense, this Tool (Eurocorps) is an Important Brick !", the French General stressed.
- "It's not the only one, and, when you place it on a Wider Perspective, and you Compare it with Other Initiatives, (such as, f.ex., the European Initiative for Action, the Structural Cooperation, the European Defense Fund, etc), you understand that the Building is under Construction) !", nowadays.
- "Step by Step, since the Europeans are Numerous, and it's certainly Not Easy, in everyday life, but Steps are Made, and the Structures exist", he Optimisticaly advanced.
- "Eurocorps has Now, become Mature, (and) it's an Important Brick, in that overall Conglomerate, and takes its place in what we could Call, Today, an Arsenal for the Benefit of Europeans, which Becomes More and More Interesting", he positively concluded.
+ In Addition, he reacted affirmatively also to anOther "Eurofora"'s observation, of the Fact that, since the New Eurocorps' Commander, was also known for having received an Advanced Knowledge of Cooperation with the UK, in matters of Defense, (by having, f.ex., Studied and Worked in London, etc), in case of BREXIT, he might, perhaps, be Invited also to Contribute in a foreseen EU - UK Joint Security/Defense Policy in the Future :
- "Absolutely. All this is still On the Making, in a Period of Changes", General Laurent Kolodziej Flexibly replied to "Eurofora" with a smile, without excluding anything of the sort, a priori.
Earlier, he had indicated (as well as Weigt) that, on 2020, Eurocors is due to become a NATO's Reaction Force (NRF), while on 2021 it might be mandated by the EU for various Missions abroad.
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EuroCorps has already been used by NATO Twice in the Former Yugoslavia's area of Western Balkans : at Bosnia-Herzegovina and at Kosovo, as well as also Twice at Afghanistan, (including in order to assume the role of ISAF's Chief of Staff), etc.
Followed 2 EU Missions in Africa, initialy at Mali, and afterwards also in Central-Africa.
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Composed mainly by 5 Framework Nations, (France, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg and Belgium), EuroCorps is also Networked with several Other European Nations, paticularly via a Permanent presence in Strasbourg of "Liaison Officers", such as, f.ex., Poland (which had even thought to become a New Framework Nation, recently), Italy, Greece and Romania.
Including More than 1.000 Men and Women, at its HeadQuarters in Strasbourg, (40O Staff and 650 Brigade), EuroCorps is a Multi-National and Multi-Modal body, Governed, each 2 Years, by a Commander General from its Framework Countries, on a Rotating basis, (Comp. Supra).
EU Parliament has, often, Strongly Supported EuroCorps, as the main ingredient for the creation of an "Autonomous" European Defense in the Future.
Meanwhile, for the 1st Time in History, as New EU Commission's President, for the period of 2019-2024, has been recently Elected the former Long-Time Minister of Defense from Germany, Ursula von der Leyen.
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Today, the outgoing Eurocorps' Commander, German General Weight, symbolically gave its Flag for his successor, the incoming new Eurocorps' Commander, French General Kolodzej, for the period of 2019-2021, to whom it was Officialy transmitted by the Chairing, German Army's Chief of Staff, General Zorn, during the Bi-Annual Ceremony for "Change of Command", attended by many Military and Political Invitees,
whose presentation to the European/International Medias was carefully organized by the incoming and outcoming Chiefs of Eurofora's Press Service, Colonels Pfau and Decker, respectively, who had, previously, kindly debated with "Eurofora" about the Best practical way to deal with the details concerning the Press Coverage of this 2019 Event by the accredited Journalists, from Photos up to the Press Conference, etc., as well as possible Next Events in the foreseable Future.
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"Eurofora"'s co-Founder has followed and Published on "EuroCorps"' interesting developments and perspectives during Many Years, almost since its creation, already from the 1990ies, (in our initial, 15 Years work for "TCWeekly" Newspaper, as well as in parallel at "MPAgency", etc : f.ex., starting by one of the 1st Eurocorps' "PIO" Chiefs, Colonel ROGER's replies to our questions, etc), and, more Recently, at "Eurofora", during the latest 12 Years (2007-2019), among others, also, f.ex. :
- Several EUROCORPS' COMMANDERS Generals' Replies to "Eurofora"s Questions on various Topical Issues, as, f.ex., by: Spanish General Pedro PITARCH (2008) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/eurocorpsgets15.html ; German Lieutenant General Hans-Lothar DOMROESE (2009) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/lisbonrightsdefence.html ; French General Olivier DE BAVINCHOV, and ISAF's Chief of Staff (7/2011) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsinafganistan.html , and (1/2012) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsafghaistanlibya.html , as well as on 12/2012 (Replying Directly from Aghanistan's ISAF Headquarters) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsroleafterafghanistan.html ; but also Together with the Incoming new Commander, Belgian General Guy BUCHSENSCHMIDT (6/2013) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpscommandersoneuautonomytools.html ; Reply by Commander General, Belgian Guy BUCHSENSCHIDT to Our Question, in an EU Parliament's meeting (11/2014) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocoprschiefoneuropeandefense.html ; Spanish General Alfredo RAMIREZ (2016) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpscommanderreadytogoforeudefensepolicy.html ; German General Jurgen WEIGT (2017) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsandeumoves.html ; (etc).
+ See Also, f.ex., on EUROCORPS' 15th ANNIVERSARY (2008) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/irish/eurocorpsgets15.html ; French JHA Minister, (+former Defense, Foreign Policy) Michelle ALLIOT-MARIE, on NATO Summit's preparations (2009) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/mamnato.html ; Replies to Our Questions, by French Defense Minister, Gerard LONGUET (10/2011) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchdefenceministerlonguetoneupolicy.html ; and by Deputy Commander of Eurocorps' Staff, German General Walter SPINDLER (1/2012) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsinafghanistanpakistaniborders.html ; French Minister of Defense Jean-Yves DRIAN to "Eurofora" on Dual Civic-Military Policy (12/2012) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchdefenceministerondualpolicy.html ; Eurocorps' Chief of Staff, Belgian General Guy BUCHSENSCHMIDT's Reply to Our Questions (12/2012) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsroleafterafghanistan.html ; French Defense Deputy Minister Kader ARIF's (former EU Parliament's Rapporteur) Reply to Our Question (1/2013) ; http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsandesdp.html ; Eurocorps' Press Chief PIO, Belgian Colonel Eddy BOOGHS' Replies to Our Questions (1/2014) ; http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsflexibilityandplurimodalityrole.html ; French Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves DRIAN's Reply to Our Question on ISIS' Terrorism (11/2014) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/frenchdefenseministerdrianonisis.html ; and by next Eurocorps' PIO Chief, Colonel DALMAU (12/2015) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsspokesmanoneusummit.html ; 25th ANNIVERSARY and a relevant Franco-German Summit (7/2017) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/francogermanmoveondefensetech.html ; Reply to Our Question by Eurocorps' German Press Officer Lieutenant-Colonel KIRCHENBAUER (9/2017) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eurocorpsanddrones.html ; PESCO Event on Defense High-Tech. Research Funding at EU Summit in Brussels (12/2017) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euhistoricdefenceevent.html ; EU Defense emerges as No 1 Issue at EU Parliament after Terrorist Islamist Attack in Strasbourg (12/2018) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/cyprusandeudefenseineuparliament.html ; New President of EU Parliament's Committee on Defense, former French EU Affairs Minister, Nathalie LOISEAU on a Topical EU SDP Issue (7/2019) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eudefenseandcyprusenergy.html ; Ceremony with 3 Franco-German AirFighter Planes + Eurocorps (7/2019) http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/eudefensecoopinstrasbourgandparis.html ; (etc).
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Before the end of 2009, France and Germany will take strong initiatives to open "new Horizons" needed by Europe and the World, going well beyond the current Crisis' management, anounced French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angie Merkel, reassuring that both a judgement on Lisbon Treaty by nearby Karlsruhe German Federal Court, and the forthcoming National Elections in Germany would confirm their capacity to act.
They were replying to Press questions in Berlin, after key-regional elections on Sunday, where Merkel's ChristianDemocratic party kept everywhere a strong 1st and won the possibility to forge a New Majority with Liberals at the largest of 3 Landers : Saxony (4 millions inhabitants), while its main competitor, the Socialdemocrat party fell to unprecedented lows : Tackled by the small "Linke" (left) party in Saarland (1 million inhabitants), it became even smaller than it in Saxony and Thuringen (3 million inhabitants), where SPD arrived only third. While its usual partners, the "Greens" also fell down, contrary to CDU's new partners, the FDP Liberals, who go up.

- "At any case, at the end of the year (2009), if things go as scheduled, we shall take strong initiatives, showing that Europe needs a Franco-German axis, as well as the World, even if it never excludes other" countries to join, replied Sarkozy to a question if France and Germany will revive the "European dream", by "relauncing the EU motor" for the Future, with actions going further than the mere management of the global crisis, (as it was done fex. in the Past with the creation of the "Euro" Monetary zone, etc).
- "I am convinced that the Franco-German friendship must be constantly nourished by New Projects", he added."There are many areas of cooperation where we intend to take, very soon, some Franco-German initiatives, which will allow to open more Horizons" to the EU, Sarkozy stressed.
But if "we don't speak about that now, it's only in order to avoid interfering in important elections coming in Germany", he observed. However, "we have already started to consider the Future with the (German) Chancellor, and what we can do in order to honour our predecessors". "We are already speaking about that, and we are preparing things". "I am working very well together with Mrs Merkel, and I wish that it goes on", Sarkozy concluded.

- "It's important for EU's credibility that France and Germany advance forward together", stressed Merkel from the outset. "Don't worry about Germany's capacity to undertake initiatives" with France, she added. "France and Germany will be perfectly able to make proposals" for the EU.
- "After-crisis" plans must be prepared, meanwhile, with measures "advancing progressively", Merkel anounced. And, for the short term, we must deal also with EU Citizens' dismay since they feel that it's a Scandal for some in the Financial Markets to be paid with excessive "Bonuses", etc, she agreed with Sarkozy.
- "Abuses in financial markets must stop", stressed also Sarkozy. Backing Merkel's announcement that France and Germany call for an EU meeting to forge "a crystal-clear European position" in view of the G-14 Summit at Pittsburg, he warned that "everyone will have to undertake his responsibilities, in front of World's Public Opinion. particularly those who don't want to make the same effort of regulation as France and Germany".
Moreover, "Global Trade cannot be correctly dealt, without taking into account also Environmental and Social rules", Sarkozy added, referring to recently expressed positions against Unfair Competition via Environmental and/or Social Dumping, (See earlier "EuroFora"'s publications).
Such moves are obviously linked to the need to ensure at least an elementary respect for Human Rights by Third Countries, (f.ex. exploitation of Children's work, etc) in order to avoid, precisely, any such Social Dumping.
- "EU has Values, protecting Human Rights and Human Dignity", and "it cannot close its eyes" in front of grave violations, particularly "Torture and/or killings", added, indeed, Sarkozy.
Thus, "the time comes, where decisions must be taken". But, in case of "Sanctions", "all International opinion should be convinced of the need to take action", he observed.
Expressed on the occasion of recent developments in Iran, the same principles should logically apply also to other similar cases, including fex. that of Hundreds of ECHR judgements' condemning f;ex. Turkey for grave crimes, (as Torture, brutal Killings, Enforced "Disappearances", Destruction of Family Homes, harassments and oppressive violations of Freedom of Speech, etc).
Meanwhile, questioned on (EU Commission's chair) Barroso's bid to succeed himself for a second mandate, they both expressed a "wish" or a "feeling" that "EU Parliament"'s various political Groups might fix a date for decisions "during September". However, is he is endorsed before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, it will be legally necessary to re-vote anew for a full term of office afterwards, according to EU Legal Experts, revealed recently in Strasbourg the experienced former President of EU Parliament's Constitutional Committee, German Socialist MEP Jo Leinen. And Germany will not vote for Lisbon Treaty's ratification but only "on September 8 and 18", revealed Merkel, ( i.e. after EU Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg).
- Therefore, "for EU Commissioners' appointment, it's too early yet, because we must wait for the ratification of Lisbon Treaty" by all 27 EU Member countries, including naturally Ireland's Referendum on early October, said to "EuroFora" the influential President of EU Parliament's largest group of MEPs, Joseph Daul, expressing, however, the hope that a controversial deal with the head of the Socialist Group of MEPs, Martin Schultz of Germany, might hold for Barroso alone, at a forthcoming vote due to fix the Strasbourg plenary's Agenda.
But MEPs reportedly just "postponed" for 1 week all their previously scheduled group meetings (See : http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/barroso-unveil-summer-homework-week/article-184825 );
However, while the choice of a new EU Commission's President by EU Parliament is supposed, according to many MEPs' wish, take place according to EU policy issues, paradoxically, this would mean that Barroso's bid would pass before even the anouncement of France and Germany's "initiatives" for EU's "new Horizons"...