Finabel
Encyclopedia
Finabel is a European organisation created with a view to promote interoperability
and cooperation between the national armies
of the member states
of the European Union
(EU). The organisation was founded in 1953, and its name is the acronym of the initial letters of the member states - France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. It became FINABEL when Germany (Allemagne) joined in 1956, shortly after West Germany was rearmed in 1955. Later, the name has been kept as a proper noun, written in lower-case, when membership further expanded. Finabel was founded by armies which belonged to both NATO and Western European Union
.
Finabel is under the control of the member states' army chiefs of staff
, and the organisation's work agenda consists of studies and working groups. Finabel has a small permanent secretariat of a few people.
The studies carried out by Finabel take the form of :
- Reports: results of studies entrusted to the Working Groups.
- Agreements: relate to the military characteristics of equipment.
- Conventions: standardise procedures, testing methods and glossaries in order to facilitate exchanges between member states.
- ENGAGEMENT: (Engage / Protect / Training) - "Effective Engagement", it studies and harmonises the doctrine, methods of action and procedures relating to the use of land forces.
- MANOEUVRE: (Sustainability / Deployability) - "Effective Logistics".
- KNOWLEDGE: (C4I / Information & Intel).
- FORCE DEVELOPMENT: "Conceptual and prospective studies". It drafts general concepts for Finabel and undertakes conceptual and prospective studies in order to create a framework for further studies by Finabel Working Groups.
Finabel has as its stated ambition to bring in all 27 member states of the European Union
within the organisation.
(representing war) and Athena
(or Minerva
; representing the rules and order which characterise EU democracies) Argent on a field Azure, with a border Argent. This escutcheon lays upon two crossed swords Or and the twelve mullets Or (from the European Union
's flag). The motto of the organisation is La réflexion au service de l'action militaire (French
for Reflexion serving military action).
Interoperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
and cooperation between the national armies
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
of the member states
Member State of the European Union
A member state of the European Union is a state that is party to treaties of the European Union and has thereby undertaken the privileges and obligations that EU membership entails. Unlike membership of an international organisation, being an EU member state places a country under binding laws in...
of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU). The organisation was founded in 1953, and its name is the acronym of the initial letters of the member states - France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. It became FINABEL when Germany (Allemagne) joined in 1956, shortly after West Germany was rearmed in 1955. Later, the name has been kept as a proper noun, written in lower-case, when membership further expanded. Finabel was founded by armies which belonged to both NATO and Western European Union
Western European Union
The Western European Union was an international organisation tasked with implementing the Modified Treaty of Brussels , an amended version of the original 1948 Treaty of Brussels...
.
Finabel is under the control of the member states' army chiefs of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
, and the organisation's work agenda consists of studies and working groups. Finabel has a small permanent secretariat of a few people.
The studies carried out by Finabel take the form of :
- Reports: results of studies entrusted to the Working Groups.
- Agreements: relate to the military characteristics of equipment.
- Conventions: standardise procedures, testing methods and glossaries in order to facilitate exchanges between member states.
The Army Chiefs of Staff Committee
Executive, the highest level. It meets once a year to summarise work of the past year and to establish the objectives for the coming year. The chairmanship of the committee changes annually.The Principal Military Experts'(PME) Committee
Made up primarily of officers responsible for doctrine, planning and studies within the staff of land components of Finabel member states. It meets twice a year to analyse the directives of the Chiefs of Staff and reformulate them in terms of missions to be distributed among the Working Groups. Belgium has provided a chairman for this committee.The Permanent Secretariat
Located in Brussels, the only permanent structure. It deals with administrative and organisational matters.The Working Groups
4 Standing Working Groups carry out studies (missions) distributed by the Principal Military Experts Committee in various areas of interest to the Armies.- ENGAGEMENT: (Engage / Protect / Training) - "Effective Engagement", it studies and harmonises the doctrine, methods of action and procedures relating to the use of land forces.
- MANOEUVRE: (Sustainability / Deployability) - "Effective Logistics".
- KNOWLEDGE: (C4I / Information & Intel).
- FORCE DEVELOPMENT: "Conceptual and prospective studies". It drafts general concepts for Finabel and undertakes conceptual and prospective studies in order to create a framework for further studies by Finabel Working Groups.
The Coordination Commission
Chaired by the head of the Permanent Secretariat, it gathers all Working Groups'chairmen. Provides a better coordination between Finabel members and a close collaboration between the groups.Member states
As of 2008, membership consists of 15 countries:- BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
- FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
- LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
- United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(1973) - SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(1990) - PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
(1996) - GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
(1996) - PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(2006) - SlovakiaSlovakiaThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
(2006) - CyprusCyprusCyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
(2008) - FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
(2008) - RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
(2008) - CyprusCyprusCyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
(2010)
Finabel has as its stated ambition to bring in all 27 member states of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
within the organisation.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of Finabel of Finabel shows MarsMars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
(representing war) and Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
(or Minerva
Minerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess whom Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards equated with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic...
; representing the rules and order which characterise EU democracies) Argent on a field Azure, with a border Argent. This escutcheon lays upon two crossed swords Or and the twelve mullets Or (from the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's flag). The motto of the organisation is La réflexion au service de l'action militaire (French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for Reflexion serving military action).
Partners
- The European Union Military StaffEuropean Union Military StaffThe European Union Military Staff is a department of the European Union , responsible for supervising operations within the realm of the Common Security and Defence Policy...
(EUMS): early warning, strategic planning, and situation assessment - NAAG: The NATO Army Armaments Group is responsible for promoting co-operation and standardisation in the area of land armaments via information exchange and collective activities.
- The European Defence AgencyEuropean Defence AgencyThe European Defence Agency is an agency of the European Union based in Brussels. It is a Common Foreign and Security Policy body set up on 12 July 2004, reporting to the Council of the European Union. All EU member states, except Denmark which has an opt-out of the CFSP, take part in the agency...
(EDA) - The European Air GroupEuropean Air GroupEuropean Air Group was established in 1995 to build on close collaboration between the British and French air forces in the first Gulf War and the subsequent Balkans operations...
(EAG)