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OPEWI – Europe’s War Institute

Europe & neighborhood focus, led by practitioners, only with European funds

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OPEWI – Europe’s War Institute

A European think tank with aim to influence policy, foster cooperation and shape the culture.

Block Pattern: Regular

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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.

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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

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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

Block Pattern: Regular

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

Block Pattern: Regular

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

Block Pattern: Regular

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. 

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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.