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OPEWI – Europe’s War Institute
Europe & neighborhood focus, led by practitioners, only with European funds
OPEWI – Europe’s War Institute
A European think tank with aim to influence policy, foster cooperation and shape the culture.
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Why this Brussels-based think tank?
Europe now faces war at its borders but also within.
Yet, Europe’s foreign policy debate in Europe at large remains ill-equipped to answer this : how should Europeans defend themselves on the ground? And with what weapons?
Addressing the above from our Brussels HQ, we want to gather European war practitioners to lead a tactical and technical conversation on how to best allocate resources according to today’s and tomorrow’s threats.
Our Team
Michael Benhamou
Executive Director
Former EU/NATO political adviser (Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, Brussels).
MA Sorbonne & Sciences po
Nationality: French
Francesca Sterzi
Research Director
Political Advisor at NRDC-ITA (reserve officer). Formerly deployed on frigates.
PhD International Law, Sant’Anna
Nationality: Italian
Andrzej Falkowski
Defence Director
Retired Lt. General. Former MilRep to NATO and to the EU. Former DCHOD.
PhD in Economic Science, Lodz University
Nationality: Polish
Advisory Council
Erhard Bühler
Retired Lt. General. Former Commander of NATO forces – KFOR, JWC, Brunssum.
CoB: Germany
Mate Padjen
Retired Lt. General. Former Military Representative to NATO/EU. Armored Vehicles engineer.
CoB: Croatia
Ketil Olsen
Retired V. Admiral. Former Military Representative to NATO. Formerly in the Navy Coast Guard.
CoB: Norway
Antonios Platias
Retired Brig. General. Former StratCom officer in NATO/EU missions.
CoB: Greece
Gary Deakin
Retired Maj. General. Former NATO JFC Naples Chief of Staff. Operations: Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
CoB: UK
Marco Serronha
Retired Lt. Gen. Former Deputy Commander to NATO/EU operations – Kosovo, Central African Republic.
CoB: Portugal
Advisory Council
Erhard Bühler
Retired Lt. General. Former Commander of NATO forces – KFOR, JWC, Brunssum.
CoB: Germany
Mate Padjen
Retired Lt. General. Former Military Representative to NATO/EU. Armored Vehicles engineer.
CoB: Croatia
Ketil Olsen
Retired V. Admiral. Former Military Representative to NATO. Formerly in the Navy Coast Guard.
CoB: Norway
Antonios Platias
Retired Brig. General. Former StratCom officer in NATO/EU missions.
CoB: Greece
Gary Deakin
Retired Maj. General. Former NATO JFC Naples Chief of Staff. Operations: Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
CoB: UK
Marco Serronha
Retired Lt. Gen. Former Deputy Commander to NATO/EU operations – Kosovo, Central African Republic.
CoB: Portugal
Our Goals
1.
Influence EU and European policymakers on police and defence matters – legislation, budgets, programmes.
2.
Foster security cooperation & autonomy in Europe by connecting industries with elected officials and civil servants.
3.
Convince the European public, on all platforms, of the necessity to finance and ramp up European defences.
Our Values
Courage
OPEWI is a place where police & military are honoured – active duty, veterans, wounded personnel.
Integrity
Only European projects and sponsorships, whether public or private, are accepted (EU27, UK, Switz., Norway & Iceland)
Mobility
Our staff is on the road, visiting leaders, factories, war zones, unsafe neighborhoods, throughout the whole year.
Community
We are creating a European community federated by a Brussels-based house where staff and guests can gather.