Hervé Morin to Coetquidan: "Common interests, a common future"

(a slightly shorter version published in Ouest-France today)

Before coming to Coetquidan (the higher training school for officers of the French army), on the occasion of a seminar on the European schools, the Minister of Defense, Hervé Morin gave his opinion, in a few words , on this military Erasmus program, exchange of officers, one of the novelties of the French presidency.



What is the interest of this new program?
There are several of them. First, it is the idea of ​​sharing a common defence, of executives who are also citizens. Beyond that, it means developing a European awareness. We have common interests, a common future, a common destiny. It forces us to defend them together. The interest is also practical. When we train people together, they get to know each other better and can more easily be “interoperable”. That is to say quite simply being able to work together. I like these direct exchanges with students. It reminds me of college, when I taught there. This makes it possible to show the progress of European defense and also to have discussions on the reforms underway in France.

And in practice, how will it work?
It all starts in fact. We already have a little experience with our German (and Belgian) friends. Now it's time to step up a gear. It is first necessary to make an inventory of all that exists, to harmonize the training courses, certain modules, to define a legal and administrative framework, to set up the exchange of officers. It will be long but exciting.

Six months of French presidency, for what result?
Everything we put on the table has, roughly speaking, been accepted. The development of new military capabilities is going to be done
sometimes 5, 12, or 27. But that's Europe today. I am also quite proud to have been able to have subjects which concern citizens adopted, such as this military Erasmus or an evacuation plan for European nationals in the event of a crisis abroad. This is significant progress. It hasn't always been easy. We've been working on it for fifteen months. But when we put the force of conviction, we manage to move the lines.