OPEWI – Europe's War Institute
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How to Further the Europeanisation of NATO?
Tuesday, 22 September 2026 · IRSEM Brussels · 10:00 to 12:00
Welcome coffee and French viennoiseries from 09:00.
Our Team
Michael Benhamou
Co-director
Former EU/NATO/FRA political adviser (Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, Brussels, Indian Ocean).
MA Sorbonne & Sciences Po
Nationality French
Andréas Hatzidiakos
Co-director
Former counter-terrorism expert at EEAS, former political and military advisor on EU CSDP missions & operations in Brussels.
PhD International Relations, Strasbourg University
Nationality Greek
OPEWI experts
Erhard Bühler
Lt. General (ret.). Former Commander of NATO forces – KFOR (Kosovo), JWC, Brunssum.
CoB Germany
Andrzej Fałkowski
Lt. General (ret.). Former Military Representative to NATO/EU. Former DCHOD.
CoB Poland
Ketil Olsen
V. Admiral (ret.). Former Military Representative to NATO. Formerly in the Navy Coast Guard.
CoB Norway
Robbie Boyd
Retired Brig. General. Former adviser to the Chair of the NATO Military Committee. Operations: Cyprus, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Sudan.
CoB Ireland
Gary Deakin
Maj. General (ret.). Former senior officer at NATO JFC Naples, SHAPE, Afghanistan. Operations: Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
CoB UK
Marco Serronha
Lt. Gen. (ret.). Former Deputy Commander to NATO/EU operations – Kosovo, Central African Republic.
CoB Portugal
Juha Vauhkonen
V. Admiral (ret.). Former Military Representative to NATO. Formerly head of Intelligence. Operations: Afghanistan.
CoB Finland
Igor Schvede
R. Admiral (ret.). Former Chief of Staff to Estonian Defence Forces. Former military representative to EU/NATO. Operations: Afghanistan, Baltics.
CoB Estonia
Mate Paden
Retired Lt. General. Former MilRep to NATO and to the EU. Former DCHOD. PhD (candidate) in Economic Science, Zagreb University.
CoB Croatia