Read more about the article Refusing Vaccines: A Possible Motive of Denial for Participation in Military Activities
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Refusing Vaccines: A Possible Motive of Denial for Participation in Military Activities

One of the main practices undertaken by various states in the ongoing fight against the spread of Covid-19 is massive vaccination campaigns targeting workers and professionals, such as teaching and medical personnel. In some instances, this course of action has been coupled with negative repercussions for workers who refuse to get vaccinated. For example, in March 2021, the Italian government imposed a vaccination obligation on all healthcare personnel, with a suspension of pay for any worker refusing to be vaccinated (Amante, 2021). Similarly, in July 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a measure setting 15 September as the date after which unvaccinated healthcare workers in France could be suspended without receiving their salary (Ficek & de Comarmond, 2021).

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23 September 2021
Read more about the article The EU and its Maritime Security Strategy in the Indo-Pacific
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The EU and its Maritime Security Strategy in the Indo-Pacific

During its meeting on 24th June 2014, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted the document, proposed by the Greek Presidency, concerning the European Union Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS), which lays out the framework for operations aimed at effectively facing the challenges related to maritime transport security. The EUMSS Action Plan was adopted on 16th December 2017 to safeguard the EU's interests and protect its member states (MS) and citizens. This plan addresses risks and threats in the global maritime domain, including organised and cross-border crime, threats to freedom of navigation, threats to biodiversity, unregulated fishing, or environmental degradation due to illegal or accidental discharges.

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21 September 2021
Read more about the article The Situation in Afghanistan Brings New Impetus for European Strategic Autonomy
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The Situation in Afghanistan Brings New Impetus for European Strategic Autonomy

In August 2021, President Biden ended the long chapter of Western intervention in Afghanistan with his immediate withdrawal of troops from the Afghan territory. Following the subsequent seizure of Kabul by Taliban militants, the country’s unfolding political, security, and humanitarian crisis has captured the attention of the world. In Europe, the fallout of the ‘chaotic’ evacuation has sparked dialogue on the broader significance of President Biden’s unilateral decision. The concept of strategic autonomy, a term already ubiquitous in EU security discourse, comes to the fore with a renewed sense of urgency. Calls by scholars, experts, and both EU and national-level officials for a more serious commitment to Europe’s empowerment as an independent actor are reverberating through the media. This article examines some of the dialogue emerging from Europe and discusses the potential for turning rhetoric into action.

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14 September 2021
Read more about the article Turkey’s Participation in the PESCO Military Mobility Project
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Turkey’s Participation in the PESCO Military Mobility Project

Since its establishment in December 2017 by the Council of the European Union under the Council Decision 2017/2315, the EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), which consists of all EU Member States (MS) minus Denmark and Malta, has supervised the development of 47 projects (PESCO Secretariat, 2021). Among these projects is the Military Mobility (MM) project, founded in 2018 and characterized by the nearly full participation of PESCO Members, apart from Ireland. Coordinated by the Netherlands, the MM project aims to simplify and standardise cross-border military transport procedures, side-stepping long bureaucratic procedures for the movement of military personnel and equipment through or over the EU MS (PESCO Secretariat, 2021), thereby enhancing the availability, interoperability, flexibility, and deploy-ability of the forces of the MS, as required by Article 2(c) of Protocol 10 of the Treaty of the European Union (TEU). This purpose is coherent with the binding Commitment 12, undertaken by PESCO participating states, which requires states to simplify and standardise “cross border military transport in Europe for enabling rapid deployment of military materiel and personnel” (PESCO Secretariat, 2021; Latici, 2019, 2).

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9 September 2021
Read more about the article Ethical and Legal Considerations for Biomedical Performance Enhancement in the Military
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Ethical and Legal Considerations for Biomedical Performance Enhancement in the Military

Since antiquity, exceeding the natural capacities of human beings has always been a concern for states and cities. With advancements in medicine and biotechnology, all major world powers are now exploring new ways to increase the psychological and physical capacities of their soldiers. The use of pharmacological products could, in theory, be used to improve soldier strength, mental capacity, recovery, and resistance to fatigue and trauma. However, the ethical and legal frameworks within which the use of pharmacological technology would be acceptable remains uncertain. Debates surrounding the use of performance enhancement drugs often revolve around concerns regarding safety and side effects. This paper seeks to go beyond those concerns and examine the ethical and legal considerations, assuming these products are safe and approved for military use.

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7 September 2021