Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany — The role of parliament in a country’s security and defense was the theme of a conference Feb. 7-8 in Freising, Germany attended by 28 members of parliament from 13 European and Eurasian – all alumni of the Marshall Center.
State Secretary Christian Schmid, German Ministry of Defense, speaks about the German Parliament’s role in the use of the armed forces in foreign deployments at a parliamentarians conference in Freising, Germany Feb. 8. Parliamentarians from 13 European and Eurasian countries discussed their role in security and defense at the two-day event organized by the Marshall Center.
(Photo by MC)
“The focus of the conference was on defense institutions and security from the perspective of the parliamentarian and how the parliamentarian in his very special role as a representative of his constituents can shape defense policy,” said Gwyneth Kozma, Eurasia Outreach Team Chief, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
Conference topics included responsibilities between executive privileges and representation of the people; international parliamentary cooperation and assemblies; and a presentation about the Ombudsman of the Armed Forces in the German Bundestag.
State Secretary Christian Schmid, German Ministry of Defense was the conference’s key note speaker Friday morning, speaking about the German parliament’s role in the control of and use of the German military in foreign deployments.
“The principal of a parliamentary army has proved its value over time,” the secretary said. “The broad political consent for foreign deployments gives our soldiers the necessary support and backing for successful work.”
Other distinguished participants were Mr. Hans Dieter Nissler from the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces in the German Bundestag, who also spoke at the event; and the Honorable Powell A. Moore, Representative of the U.S. Secretary of Defense to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
In the words of one participant, “This was an opportunity to gain more culture on the issues related to civil-military relationship. Parliamentary role was highlighted in a very competent way … It helps advance our role as parliamentarians in this field.”
“I believe the participants benefitted not only from the presentations we had arranged for them and from which they could learn something in terms of ‘best practices’ in other countries, but they also benefitted from exchanging ideas and experiences among each other.” said Dr. Detlef Puhl, Associate Dean, Marshall Center College of International and Security Studies. “I think that, in their current situations, it can be helpful to know that there are colleagues out there whom they can trust because they have something in common.”
Since the Marshall Center’s dedication in 1993, about 15,000 military and civilian leaders from more than 100 nations have attended more than 300 conferences on European and Central Asian security issues.
“The Marshall Center presents a unique possibility of permanent change with staff members and members of parliament especially from reform states of Middle East, Europe and Central Asia,” Secretary Schmid said. “I don’t see that we have many possibilities – at least on an informal basis – to sit together and exchange (ideas), so I appreciate very much the programs … and seeing the alumni I know from other events. There’s a sense of networking and maybe a (possibility to discuss) how we deal with issues which are politically complicated.”
Supported by the U.S. Department of Defense and the German Ministry of Defense, the Marshall Center offers postgraduate-level resident programs as well as conferences, seminars and workshops to military and civilian officials from Europe, Eurasia, North America and beyond. The Marshall Center boasts an international faculty and staff with representatives from 10 partner nations.
